Bernard hits penultimate ball for 6 to win 2nd XI match
The second XI clinched a dramatic last-over Championship win against Glamorgan as Kent chased 338 to win at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
Number 11 batsman Hugh Bernard smashed a big legside six into the Les Ames Stand off the penultimate ball of a hard-fought three-day contest, set up superbly by Glamorgan’s declaration after a flurry of wickets on the final morning.
Matt Hunn’s spell of 3/13 proved key including the prized wicket of experienced opener Jeremy Lawlor for 91 as Glamorgan collapsed, losing eight wickets for 37 runs.
The comeback was boosted by Imran Qayyum’s four wickets, restricting the visitors to 213 for nine, meaning Kent had 74 overs to chase the target of 338.
Akhil Patel, brother of former England spinner Samit, hit his second 50 of the match to give the hosts a steady start despite losing his partner with the score on 40 off 20 overs.
The arrival of Greek-Australian batsman Gerry Fatouros changed the match: his 102 off 99 balls gave the chase momentum.
He was joined by two promising keeper-batsmen: academy scholar Ollie Robinson (38) and Kai Appleby (33) kept the scoring going before Jonno Lewis struck 55 off 66 balls to put Kent on track for an unlikely win.
After Appleby departed, Glamorgan struck four times in five overs at the cost of 24 runs to leave the last pair needing just 10 off three overs.
Needing a run a ball off the last over, Bernard needed 3 off two balls to win, he cleared the long leg-side boundary to the delight of his team-mates on the Kent balcony.