Kent Spitfires won by 144 runs

SOUTH AFRICANS starred on both sides as Kent overwhelmed totesport League Division 2 basement side Scotland to win by 144 runs at St Lawrence.

The victory, Kent’s sixth of a disappointing mid-table campaign, was based upon a formidable batting performance from Proteas Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall who scored half-centuries in the Spitfires total of 259 for four.

Hall then picked up the ball to claim the first three Saltires’ wickets to fall in a stint of three for 17 that helped restrict the visitors to 115 on their first visit to Canterbury as Kent won with 12 overs to spare.

Playing on the same pitch on which they hammered Yorkshire on Tuesday evening, Kent proved too strong with bat and ball against a Scotland team who next season swap across from National League action to take a place in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy qualifiers.

At one point it appeared that Kent would post a rather modest score approaching 220, but after a steady start from Hall, with 63 from 79 balls, and Martin van Jaarsveld (20) they pressed the run rate accelerator through skipper Matt Walker, Kemp and Darren Stevens.

Walker clubbed 41 from 55 balls before edging to the keeper for his part in a stand of 85 with second-wicket partner Hall.

Hall clattered 10 fours in his excellent 64 then Darren Stevens chipped in with a typically bullish 34 from 44 balls.

But the real fireworks came from Kemp. The tall all-rounder eased his way to 29 and promptly doubled his score in one over from spinner Cedric English.

Kemp hit four sixes, one out of the ground and onto Nackington Road, a four and finished the over with a single to reach his 50 from just 40 balls.

With a quick-fire 20 from Michael Carberry to boot, Kent suddenly had more than enough to defend on a tinder-dry pitch they knew would help their spinner.

Hall’s opening burst duly ripped out Fraser Watts (9), Ian Stanger (0) and Steve Knox (4), but Scotland found some fighting spirit in their South African import Jon Beukes who hit a stylish 35 including six boundaries.

With the hardness off the new ball skipper Walker turned to his slower bowlers and spinners James Tredwell, with four for 16 and Rob Ferley’s three for 36, duly polished the job off.

Only English and Ross Lyons made it into double figures thereafter as Kent won at the canter.

Kent Spitfires won by 144 runs