Kent v Somerset

Kent secured a Friends Provident Trophy semi-final trip to Durham on Friday, July 4 after sweeping aside Somerset by 37 runs in their re-scheduled quarter final in sunny Beckenham.

Played out on a slow pitch with an equally sluggish outfield, this was never likely to be a run-fest, but Spitfires batted sensibly, fielded well and bowled intelligently when the pressure was at its peak to dismiss the visitors for 222 as they chased 260 for victory.

Somerset lost their former England opener Marcus Trescothick as early as the fourth over of their reply when the left-hander, in attempting to drive at Yasir Arafat, edged to James Tredwell at second slip to go for nine.

That brought together Craig Kieswetter and Justin Langer for a mouth-watering stand worth 83 in 18 overs during which time Kent looked out of it.

Langer, the dogged left-hander and Kieswetter, a willowy, elegant right-hander, combined beautifully and seemed certain to take their side into the last four.

But then Rob Key introduced off-spinner James Tredwell who struck with his fifth ball to remove Langer. Following one that turned in attempted dab down to third man, Langer edged to Geraint Jones to go for 36.

With their confidence improved, Kent gradually chipped away and picked up wickets at regular intervals thereafter.

James Hildreth (11) attempted a big hit off Simon Cook’s slower ball only to be superbly caught by man of the moment, Neil Dexter, running back at wide mid-on then dangerman Ian Blackwell went to a brilliant run out by Stevens.

Kieswetter drove hard to cover point where Stevens made a diving stop, the batsmen dallied and then ran, but Stevens picked up and threw down the stumps to run Blackwell out by yards.

Zander de Bruyn (9) was next to go, working across the line to Ryan McLaren but it was ‘golden arm’ Stevens who removed Kieswetter 10 short of a maiden one-day ton.

In attempting to clear the inner ring Kieswetter miscued slightly to be caught by Denly at wide mid-on to end a cracking 119-ball stay that included six fours and three sixes – the last of which flew over long off to be caught in the press box by yours truly.

Former Kent player Ben Phillips hit out lustily to speed to 14 but Arafat returned at the Northern End to snare him leg before and make it 207-7.

Arafat was celebrating again in his next over after plucking out the off stump of Alfonso Thomas (4) after he walked across his stumps aiming an audacious clip to leg.

Last man Steffan Jones was then run out by another direct hit from Stevens to finish the tie with 25 balls to spare.

Earlier, Dexter hit an unbeaten century in his first limited overs appearance of the summer to help Kent to their workmanlike total of 259-5.

An 11th hour selection for Martin van Jaarsveld, who remained in Canterbury to be with his heavily pregnant wife Jill, Dexter recovered from a sluggish start to record a 113-ball ton from the final delivery of the home innings.

The young right-hander hit three sixes and five fours and formed a useful second-wicket partnership with Key that added 104 in 20 overs.

Key, who, elected to bat first, saw Denly go for a sprightly 36, bowled by a shooting off-cutter which was only the third ball of the game from Thomas.

But the skipper then set out his stall to anchor the innings and had reached 73 from 88 balls when he appeared surprised to be given out, caught at the wicket off Phillips.

Justin Kemp (15), Stevens (2) and Azhar Mahmood (15) all perished in the late quest for runs, but Dexter saw it through to pull his last ball for two runs to post only his second one-day ton for the county.