Surrey Brown Caps won by one run

KENT’S promise to improve on last season’s woeful one-day performances began to sound somewhat hollow after they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to lose Bank Holiday Monday’s C&G Trophy tie to Surrey by one run.

Delayed by rain until a 2pm start with the loss of 20 overs per side, Surrey posted an impressive 223 for five in front of a meagre Canterbury crowd who moved collectively to the edge of their seats as Kent mounted an impressive response.

A Kent win looked probable as Spitfires coasted to within 37 runs of victory with 43 balls and nine wickets in hand, but that was when it all went horribly wrong.

Four wickets fell for one run in the space of 11 deliveries and though some late clubbing from Justin Kemp and James Tredwell took Kent close, Surrey just held their nerve and sneaked victory.

Using the second St Lawrence pitch to be sprayed with PVA glue, the surface proved to be a batsman’s paradise and one on which Kent’s batsmen will be kicking themselves for tossing the game away.

The hosts could not have made a more enterprising start to their reply when Darren Stevens and Neil Dexter played immaculately to post an opening stand of 138 inside 19 overs.

It was Stevens who made the early running, playing 'stand and deliver' straight drives on his way to a belligerent 67 from 61 balls.

Neil Dexter, the 21-year-old South African with an English passport, played second fiddle at first and was looking somewhat nervous until a Nayan Doshi misfield gave him four runs and lifted the pressure.

Thereafter, Dexter played superbly, lofting graceful drives and clipping off his legs with power that belies his slight frame, he went past 50 even quicker than Stevens and looked set to win the game as Doshi conceded 63 from his six overs.

The introduction of Ian Salisbury’s leg-spin accounted for Stevens, leg before pushing forward to a top-spinner, but Dexter chased on adding a further 49 in tandem with Kemp until the collapse came.

Just six short of his maiden one-day hundred Dexter quit on a lofted cover drive only to slice the ball to Tim Murtagh running in from deep extra cover.

The youngster hardly raised his bat to acknowledge the applause knowing full well he should have seen the job through and that his demise had exposed Kent’s middle order to unnecessary pressure.

The tension heightened when Matthew Walker edged a steer to third man into the keeper’s gloves then, four balls later, as Martin van Jaarsveld clipped a low full-toss directly to the fielder at long leg.

Then, after Rob Key chipped back a tame return catch to Salisbury, Kent suddenly needed 26 from 12 balls with half the team gone.

Kemp and Tredwell tried their best, both hitting sixes to lift the anxiety levels, but with four needed from the last ball Tredwell could only muster two sending Jade Dernbach, who closed with three for 44, into a dance of ecstasy and Kent supporters home unhappy.

Surrey’s total had been based around three major contributions from three distinct individuals.

After the early loss of James Benning to a slick second slip catch by Martin van Jaarsveld, it was Jonathan Batty who led Surrey’s charge, nurdling into the gaps and taking the early risks to hit over the infielders on his way to a run-a-ball 52 that included six fours and a six.

In direct contrast, new Surrey skipper and deposed England bat Mark Butcher purred class, playing in the main with a classically straight bat he eased his way to 49 from 42 balls.

It came as a big surprise when Butcher gave up his wicket to Kent rookie seamer Simon Cusden, aiming another drive at a full-length ball he edged into the gloves of Niall O’Brien.

Batty did at least reach his 50, but immediately afterwards he chased down the wicket aiming to clout van Jaarsveld’s occasional off-spinners, only to swish and miss and gift a stumping to O’Brien.

The equally classy Mark Ramprakash also gave up his own scalp when, in attempting a leg bye to the keeper, ran himself out at the non-striker’s end when O’Brien’ hit direct with an underarm throw.

That left centre stage free for one-day specialist Ali Brown who warmed up a chilly lunchtime with an array of shots played with awesome force.

He was given a life on 40 when Robbie Joseph downed a tough, diving chance at backward point but other than that is was a fearsome exhibition of power hitting.

The former one-day international clattered five fours and two sixes in racing to 64 from 43 balls only to lose his wicket to the penultimate ball of the innings when attempting and impudent reverse paddle against Simon Cook.

Judging by the shot Brown clearly felt his side had not posted enough runs – he was very nearly right.

With seven qualifying games remaining, Kent can little afford a further defeat if they are to qualify for this year's Trophy final.