Beckenham doesn’t match the bucolic beauty of most out grounds. Scarcely the Garden of England, this is near enough the back garden of our Guerilla Cricket studio in Sydenham, or more precisely, of Crystal Palace’s training ground, the noisy next-door neighbour kept mercifully from view by a very tall hedge at the Beckenham End.
It is, none the less, splendidly appointed and has seen cricket played since 1918 when Lloyds Bank first took ownership. With that heritage, you might hope for a decent return in terms of runs and that has certainly been the case over the years. Not so much for Kent this season though. Last week in the first One Day Cup game of the season here, they skittled Hampshire for a mere 168 in 41 overs and then lost six wickets themselves before finally overhauling the visitors’ total in 40 overs.
Today’s match against Middlesex was played on the same wicket that had see 16 wickets fall last Wednesday. Kent clearly felt it was unlikely to improve for batting as the day progressed and on winning the toss elected to bat.
For a while, it seemed any fears as to the trueness of the pitch were unfounded as the home team eased to 68 for 1 in the first 10 overs. Only South African allrounder Bayers Swanepoel, preferred as opener to the steadily solid Ben Compton, had fallen, caught behind fishing at a wide ball from Ishaan Kaushal. Little joy was to follow for Kaushal however as his 3 overs went for 26 without further success.
Spin trio impress for Middlesex
However, the powerplay proved to be something of a false dawn for Kent, once Middlesex had unleashed their spin trio of Luke Hollman, Nathan Fernandes and Josh De Caires. Together they proceeded to take 5 of the wickets to fall as the hosts ended their innings on 204, with the best part of six overs unused. Joey Evinson was trapped in front by De Caires for 14, and a similar fate befell Kent’s primary aggressor and top scorer Marcus O’Riorden, this time to a well flighted Luke Hollman delivery for 58.
De Caires struck again to remove Jayden Denley, who was followed in rapid time by Harry Finch, lbw to the ever accurate and probing Ethan Bamber. It was Bamber’s only wicket, but his 10 overs were reliably frugal. At 25 and now out of the shadow of his mentor Tim Murtagh, you sense that a great career lies ahead for Bamber. His loss to Warwickshire at the end of this season will be keenly felt by Middlesex who have nurtured his talent but will not reap its full reward.
Stobo departed in rapid order to Fernandes, swiftly followed by Jack Leaning and Grant Stewart, both to the pace of Henry Brooks. The sharp lifting ball that accounted for Stewart on 10 was close to unplayable as it took his edge.
At 163 for 8, passing 200 seemed unlikely for Kent. They have their own spin twins, Matt Parkinson and Hamidullah Qadri to thank for the fact they did, both of whom looked to take the attack back to the visitors. England’s forgotten man, Parkinson, was targeted by Brooks and had worn a very well-directed bouncer on the helmet along the way to an undefeated 17. Qadri fell on 25 cross batting a slog off Brooks straight to Fernandes, before Nathan Gilchrist was well short when attempting a single to push the score past that 204. An accurate De Caires throw ensured it went no higher.
Power up top pays off
Like Kent, Middlesex opened with punch power rather than experience as Joe Cracknell and Nathan Fernandes, rather than Robson and Stoneman, looked to set Middlesex’s reply on its way. Neither Fernandes nor Sam Robson at 3 put too big a dent in the victory target however. Despite two confident boundaries, Fernandes edged Stewart to Charlie Stobo at first slip and Sam Robson quickly followed suit in identical fashion.
At 28 for 2, Middlesex fans amongst the healthy Sunday crowd may have been fearing a collapse on a wicket that always offered the bowlers some help. They will have felt considerably happier the more Joe Cracknell set about his work though. The Kent attack was despatched with power and style as the 24-year-old struck pulls and drives around all parts of the Beckenham County Ground. It was both calculated and crushing as he fearlessly led Middlesex’s charge. Ultimately, having struck 12 fours and two mighty sixes in his 88, he looked to launch the ever-probing Parkinson over long off for a third six, only to find Beyers Swanepoel who gratefully accepted the chance.
Both Robbie White and Jack Davies superbly continued the momentum, picking up where Cracknell had left off. The pair took Middlesex to within 12 of victory but then departed one after the other looking to get the job done early. Davis pulled a short ball from Jayden Denly straight to midwicket and five balls later, having brought up a fine 50, White thrust forward to a well flighted ball from Parkinson and edged behind.
Kent fans had long since accepted the inevitable but were happy to enjoy the sunshine and two late successes. Any Middlesex faithful, however, might just have started to shuffle in their seats, darkly muttering “surely not?”. They need not have worried. Mark Stoneman and Luke Hollman confidently finished the job without further alarm.
A fine second consecutive win for Middlesex. White ball riches indeed and a step up the tight group A table to sit in 6th, just behind their hosts, but within striking distance of the pack in second place