County Cricket 2008 / News
Kent v Somerset, FP Trophy quarter-final, Beckenham
Dexter steers Kent into semi-finals
Cricinfo staff
June 5, 2008
Kent 259 for 5 (Dexter 101*, Key 73) beat Somerset 222 (Kieswetter 90) by 37 runs
Scorecard
Kent booked a semi-final meeting at Durham with a 37-run victory over Somerset at Beckenham thanks to a 113-ball hundred from Man of the Match Neil Dexter.
Dexter, who blasted an unbeaten 101, and Robert Key provided the bulk of Kent's runs after they had won the toss and opted to bat. Key and Joe Denly gave them a breezy start in an opening stand of 68, and then Key and Dexter maintained the momentum in adding 104 in 20 overs.
Dexter, who only came into the side after Martin van Jaarsveld withdrew for family reasons, rode his luck well - he was dropped at deep midwicket by Steffan Jones - rubbing salt in the wound by thumping Jones for a straight six soon after. Key also scored freely until he edged Ben Phillips to the keeper the ball after smashing him for six.
Dexter continued to score swiftly even though he found only fleeting support once Key had departed, reaching his hundred with two off the final ball of the innings.
Somerset lost Marcus Trescothick to a sharp second-slip catch in the fourth over, but Craig Kieswetter and Justin Langer appeared to put them on course with a solid second-wicket stand of 80. The innings checked after Langer was caught behind trying to run the ball to third man, and then really wobbled when Ian Blackwell was run out by a direct hit from Darren Stevens.
Somerset's remaining hope all but disappeared when Kieswetter was held on the midwicket boundary aiming for a fourth six, and their last four wickets added only 18 runs.
The game, which should have taken place at Canterbury yesterday, was switched to Beckenham after heavy storms left the St Lawrence Ground underwater.
Dexter steers Kent into semi-finals
Kent booked themselves a trip to Durham in the FP Trophy semi-finals with a 37-run victory over Somerset at Beckenham
|
|
Australia have had golden ages of spin, but the greats have been few and far between, and the decision-makers haven't helped the cause any. By Peter English
'Australia's selection is ridiculous'
The visitors have left themselves exposed by not taking an extra batsman, says Ian Chappell in his Ashes preview
'England look a little more settled'
The Tony Greig Show: The selectors' conundrum ahead of the Ashes, and why Vaughan wasn't as great as made out
Ian Chappell: This summer, with its blend of Twenty20 and a top-flight Test series, may offer a blueprint for cricket's programme in the years ahead
Beyond the Test World
Western Union Instant Win Game
NoPurchaseNecessary. Subject toOfficial Rules
Buy Ashes merchandise - clothes, books, DVDs & more
At Cricshop
Get the right speed and online tools
Rogers Business Internet
No Minimum Balance NRI Account
Citibank
and get a calling card
