Coles impresses at the St Lawrence Ground
Thursday 19th April 2012
Gloucestershire's top-order batting struggled in bowler-friendly conditionsat Canterbury, limping to 131 for six on the opening day of their LV= County Championship clash with Kent.
Three breaks for rain led to the loss of 42 overs when heavy showers finally halted play for the day at 6pm, shortly after Gloucestershire had lost their sixth wicket.
Bowling first after winning the toss, unchanged Kent made an immediate impact when Charlie Shreck, on his home debut, dismissed Chris Dent with only his second delivery from the St Lawrence Pavilion End.
Running a delivery back down the slope to the left-hander, Shreck found an inside edge for wicketkeeper Geraint Jones to pull off a low catch moving to his right.
Five overs later another home debutant, former Durham seamer Mark Davies, got in on the act by dismissing Richard Coughtrie for three – leg before wicket with a darting off-cutter which trapped the right-hander on his crease.
Visiting skipper Alex Gidman got a reprieve at third slip with his score on 10, but failed to capitalise when Matt Coles, who replaced Davies at the Nackington Road End, got a delivery to hold its line and give Jones a second catch of the morning behind the stumps.
On the stroke of lunch, Coles bagged his second when another nip-back ball snared Hamish Marshall lbw to make it 67 for four at the interval.
Only a dozen balls after the resumption, Benny Howell, released by Hampshire at the end of last season, became Coles' third victim when he too went lbw after scoring an attractive 44 from 74 balls, including six boundaries.
After another delay for rain, Kent struck again when Davies switched to the Pavilion End to send back Ian Cobain for a battling 32. Pushing at an off-cutter, the right-hander survived a huge shout for lbw only to be given out caught, as the ball had brushed the inside edge before ballooning off the pad to Coles at gully.
Much to Cobain's chagrin the rain became heavier after one more delivery and subsequently ended play for the day.
Coles, fresh from career-best figures of six for 51 in Kent's emphatic win against Northamptonshire in the previous round, ended the day with three for 37, while Davies gave accurate support with two for 19 from his 14 overs.
Click here for a selection of photos from the day's play.
Kent v Gloucestershire – Day 1 from Kent Cricket on Vimeo.
Ground Information:
Car Parking
Kent Cricketannounced early on Thursday morning that the SimonLangton Girls' School Car Park would be closed due to heavy rain overnight. TheCar Park is likely to remain closed on Friday, and therefore supporters are asked to use the Nackington Road entrance toenter theStLawrence Ground. As many vehicles as possible will be accommodatedon-site, with the New Dover Road Park and Ride an alternative.
One off parking on-site will be £8 if the Simon Langton Girls' School Car Park remained closed on Friday, and Simon Langton Parking Pass holders pay park on-site at no additional cost if this is the case.
The Club will offer regular updates on the prospects of play. You may wish to view the Club's webcam which is updated every 30 seconds.
Tickets:
Tickets for this match are available both online (click here) and at the gate. If you purchase tickets online before 9am on each of the day's play, they will be cheaper than those purchased at the gate. Please see ticket prices below.
Adults: £10 in advance, £15 on the gate (Ground Only)
£15 in advance, £20 on the gate (Frank Woolley Stand)
Juniors (U 16): £5 in advance, £8 on the gate
Tickets can also be purchased from the Kent Cricket Shop.
Kent Cricket Retail Shop:
The Kent Cricket Shop will be open from 9am and has the new range of training kit available to purchase. There will also be a few bargains to be had within the Sale section.
The 2012 Kent Cricket Annual is now in stock for you to buy, priced £10 for non-members. Members please go to the Kent Cricket Shop to collect your Annual (you may be guided to the Meeting Room in the Cowdrey Conference Centre to pick this up).
Food and Beverage:
The Cornwallis Room, located in the Cowdrey Conference Centre is open to both members and non-members, serving a range of food and drink from 9am. The Carvery will be served from 12pm, which is available on a first come first serve basis.
Jonesy's Kitchen, located on the ground floor of the Les Ames Boxes is also open from 9am, serving a range of hot and cold snacks throughout the day and hot meals during the lunch interval. To book a table please telehone Carol on 07887 974304 or email littlenashpartnership@hotmail.co.uk.
Photo: Sarah Ansell SarahCanterbury.com