KENT officials have lodged an appeal to the ECB following Thursday’s imposition of an eight-point penalty by a pitch panel after 27 wickets fell in the opening two days of Maidstone Week.

The decision to appeal was taken after David Fulton’s side went on to complete an emphatic seven wicket win over struggling Gloucestershire just after Friday’s lunch interval and, it is hoped, will be heard within a week.

The points penalty was imposed by a three-man panel of Tony Pigott, David Hughes and Harry Brind that was convened after ECB pitch liaison officer Pigott had seen nine wickets fall on an opening day that lost 49 overs to rain.

Though unable to comment directly on the appeal or what mitigation Kent would be offering, the county’s chief executive Paul Millman was convinced it was the right course of action having spoken with his players and chairman of cricket Graham Johnson.

After the imposition of the penalty 24 hours earlier, Mr Millman said: “I don’t think this will distract us from our policy of taking cricket to the out grounds, but we will understand and learn from this.

“I feel very sorry for the boys (the team) because this sort of situation is out of their control.

“We couldn’t have predicted some of the weather we have had here (Maidstone) recently and it’s been a difficult time for ground staff with extreme heat of Friday followed by a wet weekend.”

Meanwhile, Kent return to The Mote on Sunday to take on Derbyshire Phantoms in a totesport League Division 2 clash starting at 1pm.