Crawley century has Kent eyeing huge first innings

Kent 398 for 4 (Crawley 158, Bell-Drummond 60, Leaning 54*, Finch 42*) vs Nottinghamshire

Crawley cashed in after being dropped when he was on two, making 158 from 153 balls and hitting three sixes earlier than he was caught and bowled by Calvin Harrison, who was Notts’ most potent bowler, claiming 2 for 104.

Kent had been barely recognisable from the facet that misplaced by 321 runs at Trent Bridge in July. Of the seven adjustments, Crawley was again from England responsibility and there have been debuts for spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Aron Nijjar, signed on-loan from Essex.

The main speaking level, nonetheless, was the continuing absence of membership captain Sam Billings.

Billings had taken a break from red-ball cricket earlier within the season and though he was included within the squad, Leaning remained captain and Finch retained the gloves.

Nottinghamshire handed a debut to Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando, simply 24 hours after he’d arrived within the UK and on a day when the temperature in Canterbury was 30 levels, the identical as in his native Katuneriya.

It seemed like a significant toss to win and after selecting to bat Kent’s openers placed on 95 in a partnership of just about diametrically opposed types.

Crawley performed like he was nonetheless in Ashes mode, using his luck at instances on a floor that wasn’t as lifeless because it initially appeared. He was put down by Dane Paterson at level in simply the second over and responded by cracking Brett Hutton for 4 consecutive fours within the third.

He punched his well beyond 50 when he straight-drove Paterson for 4 whereas Ben Compton, after one expansive early effort, Geoffrey Boycotted his technique to 18 earlier than he was bowled making an attempt to reverse sweep Calvin Harrison, 4 minutes earlier than lunch.

Crawley introduced up his century off 100 balls when he nudged Lyndon James to level for a single and reached 150 when he pulled Fernando for one via high-quality leg earlier than Harrison by some means clung onto a violent drive to take away him.

Bell-Drummond was out to the very subsequent supply when he tried to hook Fernando and went to an acrobatic seize by keeper Tom Moores, however Tawanda Muyeye pulled the ultimate ball of the afternoon session for six to go away the hosts on 260 for 3 at tea.

Muyeye and Leaning placed on 59 for the following wicket, earlier than the previous went for 35. Having edged Steven Mullaney for 4 he ran out of luck when he nicked the following ball to Harrison at slip, however Finch joined Leaning to earn Kent a 3rd batting level and the skipper introduced up his half-century when he flicked Mullaney to 3rd man for 4 within the penultimate over.