SUSSEX V KENT 2ND INNINGS: Sussex triumph against Spitfires

Kent started slowly in their reply and Sam Northeast and Rob Key saw them to 31-0 at the end of the first powerplay.

But just like Sussex they lost two quick wickets with Key (13) being stumped by Ben Brown off the bowling of Mike Yardy before Northeast (19) was late on a pull from Anyon and gave Joe Gatting the simplest of catches.

Brendan Nash and Darren Stevens then consolidated for the Spitfires against the spin of Yardy and Michael Rippon and the 15th over saw Yardy go for 12 including a huge six from Stevens. Stevens then hit another maximum into the tennis courts in Yardy’s next over. At 86-2, the Kent innings was following a very similar pattern to Sussex’s innings, with the Sharks 88-2 at this stage.

Luke Wright replaced Yardy at the tennis court end but made no difference to Stevens who smashed him into the tennis courts for another maximum in the 19th over. Stevens continued his onslaught in Wright’s next over, hitting a 4 and 6 in consecutive balls to put Kent slightly ahead at the same point in the Sussex inningsa

Chirs Nash then brought himself on and it proved a shrewd move as he struck in his first over, trapping namesake Brendan lbw for 35.

Stevens continued with some powerful strokes and reached his 50 off just 39 balls before gave Nash a low catch at cover off Jordan’s bowling.

The skipper struck again, bowling former England Test keeper Geraint Jones for just 1 and Sussex were now in charge.

And in Nash’s next over, a mix-up saw Adam Ball run out after some good work by Luke Wells leaving Kent needing 69 to win off 8 overs.

But Ben Harmison was quietly going about his business and hit a couple of lovely boundaries off Yardy and Nash respectively.

Spitfires skipper James Tredwell then smashed a straight six in the first over of the batting powerplay off Liddle to keep Kent in the game.

Liddle got his revenge though with Rory Hamilton-Brown taking a stunning catch running backwards over his shoulder leaving Kent needing 27 from the last three overs with three wickcets in hand. But anything Hamilton-Brown can do, Luke Wright can do better! Harmison cut Jordan in the air and Wright palmed the ball in the air before juggling the ball and catching it as he landed. A top effort.

Adam Riley then picked out Jordan in the deep off Liddle and Sussex looked home and dry with just the injured Mark Davies - who tore his bicep bowling - to come in.

Needing 21 to win off the last over, it was not to be for the visitors as Anyon bowled Davies and Sussex triumphed by 20 runs.