Kent won by three wickets

KENT’S Antigua-born pace bowler Robbie Joseph did his championship selection claims the power of good by bagging career-best figures of five for 19 to help the county to a three-wicket win over Bangladesh A.

Having been set 188 with over four sessions of the game to go, Kent’s young side bravely went for their shots and even claimed the extra half-hour to win the game with a day and seven balls to spare.

Opening batsman Neil Dexter, who hopes to return to the club next summer, top-scored with 54 from 64 balls while left-hander Michael Carberry hit 47 at a run-a-ball to lay the foundations for the run chase.

The hosts gave first-class debuts to two local teenagers and 20-year-old South African Dexter, a compact right-hander, for a game played out on a tinder-dry and occasionally brutish St Lawrence pitch.

Having won the toss the tourists, who named four players with Test experience, batted first and posted 185 courtesy of a belligerent 90-ball innings of 86 from Tushar Imran, with only two others edging into double figures.

Acting skipper Martin Saggers led the attack with five for 48 and Matt Dennington bagged three for 23, but otherwise the Kent bowlers failed to make the most of helpful conditions.

Kent were dismissed inside 49 overs in reply to concede a first innings lead of 32 with Saggers again starring with a top-score of 44.

Of the debutants Dexter, an English passport holder who plays club cricket for Folkestone, was out for a single and Gore Court and Kent Academy all-rounder 18-year-old Kevin Jones was leg before first ball.

Saggers found a partner in 17-year-old St Lawrence and Highland Court wicketkeeper Paul Dixey, who hit a bullish 24 with three fours as Kent eventually succumbed for 153.

The visiting batsmen also struggled second time around, Joseph leading the fight-back with a fiery 47-ball stint from the Nackington Road End that dismissed the Tigers’ second string for 155 and left Kent with four-and-a-half sessions or 129 overs to reach 188 for victory.

They hustled to the win within 43 overs courtesy of double-figure contributions from eight of the nine batsmen to make it out into the middle.

Kent won by three wickets