Van Jaarsveld applies finishing touch

Martin van Jaarsveld struck his second unbeaten century of the match to steer Kent to a memorable four-wicket LV County Championship victory over Surrey at the Brit Oval.

Van Jaarsveld was dropped twice on the way to 115 not out - to go with an unbeaten 114 in the first innings and a career-best 5-33 with the ball as Kent bowled the hosts out for just 130 in the second innings.

The result leaves Surrey at the foot of the Division One table without a win this season, although they will probably reflect on a missed opportunity after establishing a 127-run first-innings lead.

Kent resumed on the final day on 166 for five - needing a further 92 to win - and the partnership of van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones took them to within 30 runs of victory before Jones fell for 39, edging a wide Jade Dernbach delivery to Ali Brown at first slip.

Yasir Arafat was dropped by Abdul Razzaq two overs later, with van Jaarsveld hitting Dernbach for four to reach his hundred two balls later.

It was fitting that van Jaarsveld hit the winning runs, flicking Saqlain Mushtaq off his legs for four to wrap up victory.

Martin van Jaarsveld celebrates Kent's unlikely victory after registering his second hundred

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Van Jaarsveld was understandably pleased after becoming the first player in Kent’s history to score two hundreds and take five wickets in the same match, and only the 12th in first-class cricket.

“I’m completely humbled,” the South African said. “Not in my wildest dreams did I think that I would have a match like this.

“I have had two centuries in a match before, but this has to be the number one, especially when you throw in the five wickets.”

Van Jaarsveld’s second major contribution began with his team struggling on 28 for three, but his assured innings saw Kent home with few alarms.

“After the third wicket went down, I kind of knew that I would have to bat through for us to win,” he added.

“I didn’t score as quickly as in my first innings. I just focused on trying to face 200 balls, and I knew that would get us close.”

On his bowling performance in the second innings, van Jaarsveld said: “I got a bit of luck with [Matthew] Spriegel stepping on his wicket, but I’ll take it!

“You don't have too many days like yesterday, and to see it through today is the icing on the cake.”