Lizzy reports from Canterbury
There’s a small danger that Kent might actually win this. Daniel Bell-Drummong is advancing towards a century and the runs have started coming fairly easily. There was a century partnership between Bell-Drummond and Nash for the third wicket which almost certainly saved the match for their county. Leicestershire have just not been able to find the penetration with the ball that they did in the first innings. They have by no means bowled badly but this is a good batting track and the ball is now 51 overs old and they won’t get the chance of a new one. There are 20 overs left here and Kent need another 139 runs for victory, Leicestershire need 7 wickets and at the moment the former seems the more likely.
Lizzy reports at tea
It’s Tea here at Canterbury and there’s a vital third wicket partnership building between Bell-Drummond and Nash, which is now worth 59. There are 36 overs remaining for Leicestershire to take these 8 wickets but for the moment these two are batting very nicely and it’s getting easier as the ball is now 35 overs old.
Lizzy reports
News from Canterbury is that Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendon Nash are digging in for the moment. Their partnership is just 14 runs from 11 overs. I’ll bring you news of any wickets as soon as they fall but there are 44 overs remaining in the day for Leicestershire to get these eight wickets.
Lizzy reports from Canterbury
Second wicket has fallen at Canterbury. Rob Key has played round a straight one and is LBW to Shreck for 7. Kent 40/2. The weather is just about holding at the moment but it doesn’t feel as though a shower is very far away.
Lizzy reports from Kent v Leicestershire
THERE’S ONE OF THEM: A beauty from Charlie Shreck has bowled Joe Denly for 9. Kent 20/1 . Bell-Drummond has produced a couple of flowing drives but batting against Shreck and McKay is not looking very easy.
In other news, Leicestershire are in advanced negotiations with Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal to join them for the Natwest T20 blast. He will come in purely as cover for Grant Elliott who is expected to be missing for a few T20 matches on NZ duty.
Lizzy Ammon with a new weather report
The Sun is back out and we’re going to have some cricket. Play resumes at 1.10pm and the scoreboard says there’s 73 overs left in the day. Which sounds a lot to me. Kent need 315 to win. And it might not be very easy facing Clint McKay seaming it off a pitch that’s going to have a bit more juice in it after the shower. I’ll keep you posted...
It’s raining in Kent, reports Lizzy Ammon
Well that didn’t last long. We managed five overs before a heavy shower came in. Not expecting to last long, the gale force winds are blowing the clouds across at some rate. Leicestershire are all out though. Taylor, who had played a nice little innings, edged to Coles in the slips and then Charlie Shreck had his stumps splayed for 1. So Leicestershire are all out for 196 and when we resume Kent will need 315 to win. Or Leicestershire will need 10 wickets. Or we’ll spend a lot of the day watching covers. One of the three.
Lizzy reports from Canterbury
Well good morning from Canterbury. Is this the day that Leicestershire finally get the monkey off their back? It’s been 35 matches since they had a win. Way back in September 2012. In fact, it’s been a lot longer since they won away from home. 32 away matches without a win.
There’s a gale blowing across the ground, but the weather is just about holding. Leicestershire lead by 307, 8 wickets down. I did wonder whether they’d declare overnight but they’re going to have another bat this morning with Rob Taylor playing very nicely on 33*.
The players and umpires are out…… settle in…..Off we go…….
Morning all,
Today we have Lizzy Ammon at Kent v Leicestershire. Here’s a link to her report from yesterday:
Clint McKay gives Leicestershire hope of ending long wait for victory
This match is fascinatingly poised. Leicestershire, who have not won a county championship match since September 2012, got themselves into a very strong position to try to secure that elusive victory. They headed into their second innings with a handy first innings lead of 118.
And here’s her starter for half ten:
Bonjour mesdames et messieurs, bienvenue sur le blog County. OK, that’s the extent of my French. With both Division One matches wrapped up yesterday, it’s division two action today and it’s just little old me steering the county blog ship today. (What could possibly go wrong).
I’m at Canterbury where maybe, just maybe, Leicestershire may get their first victory for 35 matches. And they’ve been away from home 32 times since they won away. They lead by 307 runs overnight with two wickets left. If the weather holds, they have every chance of finally getting that elusive win.
Elsewhere in Division Two, Gloucestershire wrapped up victory yesterday against Essex where it was Liam Norwell who did the bulk of the damage taking 10 wickets in the match. The match in Cardiff has been all but ruined by the weather. Glamorgan have declared 102 runs behind in the first innings to try and mae a game of it but that looks unlikely. At Wantage Road, it was so windy yesterday they had to play without bails. Northants are 42-2 in their second innings training by just nine runs.
If you want some morning reading, I highly recommend Andy Bull’s warning to English cricket that the demands they place on the players will lead to more and more premature retirements.
Enjoy the cricket.
