Kent capitulate

Jon Lewis was one of three Gloucestershire bowlers to pick up a pair of wickets as Kent mustered only 231

Kent wilted in blistering heat at Beckenham to be dismissed for a sub-par 231 inside 75 overs as LV= County Championship Division Two leaders Gloucestershire showed their promotion mettle.

In temperatures approaching 32 degrees Gloucestershire’s four-pronged pace attack combined well to skittle the hosts out shortly after tea despite a quick, bouncy pitch and near ideal batting conditions at the Worsley Bridge Road ground.

Former Worcestershire 2nd XI seamer Gemaal Hussain bagged 2-73 on his Championship bow, shattering the stumps of Ryan McLaren with a quick yorker.

Yet it was the wily pair of Jon Lewis and left-armer James Franklin, with two wickets apiece, who caused Kent most problems.

Though six Kent batsmen reached double figures only one, Martin van Jaarsveld, made 50 as Gloucestershire restricted them to a single batting bonus point.

After the early loss of Sam Northeast who was deputising for Joe Denly, Rob Key’s poor year continued when, after batting 88 minutes for 33 on his hometown ground, he nicked a Lewis leg-cutter to the keeper to end a stand worth 54 with Geraint Jones.

Jones (46) and van Jaarsveld combined either side of lunch to add a further 40 but then Jones dragged on trying to pull a rapid Steve Kirby bouncer.

Soon after celebrating a 76-ball fifty, including nine fours, van Jaarsveld was also undone by Kirby’s pace and top-edged to midwicket.

Like those before him Darren Stevens looked capable of cashing in but again application was lacking and he edged to the keeper off Franklin after a cameo 31 from 49 balls.

An ugly smear across the line off the bowling of Vikram Banerjee accounted for Azhar Mahmood, with the spinner then accounting for James Tredwell after a meek clip to midwicket.

McLaren then had his furniture re-arranged by Hussain who also had Simon Cook caught at second slip having seen him dropped their off the previous delivery. Both fell for nought.

With the last man at the wicket, Justin Kemp’s patience ran out and his stoic knock of 40 from 88 balls ended when he holed out to long-on.

In the 19 overs remaining in the day Kent rekindled a little hope by having William Porterfield and Hamish Marshall caught at slip, for 19 and four respectively, as Gloucestershire reached 69 for two, to go into day two trailing by 162 runs.