Matt Walker said Kent’s win over Northamptonshire took a lot of hard work on the final day of the match.

Kent had a 102 run victory in their match at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence to keep them second in the Specsavers County Championship, Division 2.

The home side set the visitors a target of 320 in the second innings and went into that last day needing the final seven wickets.

Head coach Walker said: “It wasn’t straightforward at all really. It took a lot off hard work and the wicket flattened out pretty quickly.

“It was going to take a lot of patience, discipline and skill to break the wall down and batting did become pretty easy at one stage.

“The way we went about things after lunch was excellent. Before lunch we drifted a bit and took our foot off the gas and expected things to happen.

“The response after a bit of a chat at lunch was fantastic. We came back and had that bit more attitude and energy in the field. We stuck at it.

“We were never going to blast a side out on that wicket so it took a bit of time but we deserved a win.”

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry took 11 wickets in the match to fire Kent to victory.

He now has 61 wickets for the season and is the leading wicket-taker in both divisions of the competition.

Walker said: “The number of wickets Matt has got this season is extraordinary. It is his third 10-fer of the season and that is incredible.

“The most pleasing thing has been the support around him. Even when he hasn’t been around the boys have stood up and the emergence of Harry Podmore, Ivan Thomas and Grant Stewart have all played their part.

“They may not get the wickets that Matt does but they all do their job really well. Harry today was incredible. He did it at Derby on a really flat wicket but his skill and discipline and accuracy meant he didn’t let them get away and played a nice holding role and got a few wickets.

“All year the boys have been a great support cast around Matt Henry. If you are going to win things you need that.”