Tredwell puts Middlesex in a spin
James Tredwell led the way with a six-wicket haul as Kent opened their Friends Provident Trophy win account for 2009 by sweeping aside Middlesex by six wickets on a troublesome Southgate pitch.
After suffering a 110-run drubbing at Taunton last month, Kent proved the dominant force in this their second Group B tie thanks to a career-best haul of 6-27 by off-spinner Tredwell that helped dismiss the hosts for a paltry 133.
Though they elected to bat first, Middlesex were regretting their decision within a handful of deliveries after opener Billy Godleman endured a tortuous opening over.
The left-hander edged Azhar Mahmood’s second ball just short of the keeper and then played and missed at four of the next five allowing Mahmood to open up with a maiden.
Mahmood soon had his man though as Geraint Jones came up to the stumps for the seventh over to claim the edge at the second attempt.
James Tredwell bowled a triple-wicket maiden and at one point had 6-4 as he ran through Middlesex, ending on 6-27
On-loan seamer Steffan Jones replaced Mahmood at The Waterfall Road End and enjoyed success with his first ball that jagged in off the seam to pluck out former Kent batsman Neil Dexter’s middle stump.
Tredwell then claimed centre stage with a spell-binding stint of four for two in 12 balls that started with the prized scalp of Australia Test opener Phillip Hughes.
Averaging 161 in the championship and yet to be dismissed for less than 50, 20-year-old Hughes was dropped on two when Joe Denly at point downed a tough low chance off the bowling of Wayne Parnell.
But the left-hander tried to bully Tredwell’s first ball through the covers only to sky to point where Denly this time took the catch that sent Hughes packing for 23.
In his next over, a treble-wicket maiden, Tredwell accounted for Dawid Malan (two), Eoin Morgan (13) and Gareth Berg (nought) as the Panthers slide continued, then Shaun Udal’s reckless on-drive picked out mid-on and, next ball up, Tim Murtagh was snared leg before to give Tredwell 6-4 in only 24 balls.
Some lusty blows from Chris Silverwood (16) and a last-wicket stand worth 40 – the highest of the innings – between last man Steve Finn (16) and top-scorer Ben Scott (29 not out) at least took Middlesex into three figures until Mahmood returned to clip Finn’s off stump and end the innings 13.2 overs ahead of schedule.
Kent made a circumspect start to the reply and lost Rob Key (17) soon after they had cut the deficit to double figures when he edged to the keeper when attempting a run down to third man.
Joe Denly (32) hit the first six of the pursuit against leg-spinner Malan only to be stumped soon after, then Martin van Jaarsveld followed suit, driving to mid-off the next ball after clearing the ropes at long-off.
Though James Hockley (18) featured in the highest stand of the match, 46 for the fourth wicket with Darren Stevens, he too fell when playing across the line to Steve Finn, leaving Stevens (37no) and Geraint Jones to steer Kent past the finish line with six wickets and 76 balls in hand.
