Injury cuts short Carter carnage

Neil Carter smashed an astonishing 13 fours and six sixes in his explosive 103, but was forced to leave the field with a slipped disc

Warwickshire all-rounder Neil Carter was forced to retire hurt with a slipped disc after hitting a rapid unbeaten hundred that helped secure a comfortable 59-run NatWest Pro40 win over fellow title challengers Kent.

The all-rounder took advantage of a sublime pitch, short boundaries and an inexperienced home attack to club a 64-ball century with six sixes and 13 fours as Warwickshire racked up 283 for six at Canterbury.

Kent, who were without England one-day opener Joe Denly, elected to rest leading run-scorers Rob Key and Martin van Jaarsveld and they paid the price as Kent's run-chase ran out of steam. They were bowled out for 224 with 4.4 overs unused.

Having lost the toss, Warwickshire saw Jonathan Trott perish in the first over when a mix-up with Carter over a second run to Alex Blake at square-leg saw him run out at the striker's end.

Ian Bell then teamed up with Carter to add 71 for the second wicket in nine overs before Bell mistimed a pull off Simon Cook to Rob Ferley at mid-on to depart for 22.

That was the cue for Carter to take centre stage. He helped plunder 22 off one over from Phil Edwards and then pulled a six off acting skipper Justin Kemp to move to his first one-day hundred against county opposition.

However, in the 19th over of the innings and with his side 155 for two, Carter appeared to collapse over his bat at the non-striker’s end and he was taken from the field in considerable pain.

Scans from the nearby Kent and Canterbury Hospital later revealed that Carter had slipped a disc whilst batting, meaning he may not take any further part in the Bears' title challenge.

Warwickshire were given further impetus by Jim Troughton's 54-ball fifty, which contained five fours, but his stay ended with a waft across the line that saw him bowled by Darren Stevens.

Tim Ambrose’s 46 was the only major contribution thereafter, and he too fell to Stevens, clipping a simple catch to midwicket.

A stiff run-chase grew in difficulty when Kent openers Sam Northeast and James Hockley were lbw playing across the line to Chris Woakes.

Alex Blake chipped a low catch to mid-on and, at 38 for three, Kent were deep in trouble.

They regrouped through Geraint Jones, who made an emphatic 63 off 60 balls, and James Tredwell, who hit 45 off 36, but Jones holed out to deep cover and Tredwell heaved across the. With him went Kent’s slim hopes of victory.