Kent beat Lancashire by seven wickets to boost promotion hopes

Kent coast home in Canterbury chase

Kent remain firmly in the County Championship Division Two promotion race after beating Lancashire by seven wickets at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.

Needing just 56 to win at the start of play, having resumed on 84-2, they coasted home after just 18.3 overs on day three, finishing on 142-3.

Scorecard summary

Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury (day three)

Lancashire 161: Ahmed 5-42, Milnes 4-28 & 192: Harris 48; Dudgeon 3-51

Kent 214: Crawley 84; Stanley 4-61 & 142-3: Northeast 48*

Kent (19 pts) beat Lancashire (3 pts) by seven wickets

Kent were 84-2 when play began at midday, chasing 140 to win, after a 90-minute delay due to rain. Although Tawanda Muyeye hit James Anderson’s first ball of the day through cover for four, Lancashire did not make it easy for the home side.

Muyeye was out to Tom Bailey lbw for 43 in the fourth over of the session, but with so few runs to defend Lancashire stood little realistic chance.

Sam Northeast finished unbeaten on 48 in Kent’s successful run chase, while Daniel Bell-Drummond hit the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 19.

The biggest round of applause of the day came when it was announced the scheduled lunch interval would be delayed until there was a result and during the extension Bell-Drummond cracked Balderson for four to seal the victory.

The win keeps Kent firmly in the promotion race in Division Two.