Worcestershire Rapids 306/6 lose to Kent Spitfires 307/8 by 2 wickets
SPITFIRES BLAST THEIR WAY TO LORD'S
What a match! What a thriller! A game that will go down as an instant classic for the roller-coaster contest that saw both teams edge ahead of the other at multiple points. A blistering, emotion-twisting battle, Kent had Worcestershire in trouble early on when they reduced them to 48/4 until Ben Cox led the fightback to help the hosts post 306/6. Quick Kent wickets then saw Worcestershire further their cause before Heino Kuhn continued his incredible form to rebuild Kent's innings and, aided by the brilliant Adam Rouse (70) and Alex Blake (61), took the visitors to a position whereby the tail could smash the winning runs with just two balls to go and book their Lord's final place.
No cricketer in the history of English domestic List A cricket has been in the form that Heino Kuhn has enjoyed over the past five matches. In that time he's hit four hundreds - 117, 113, 124* and 127 - for Kent, becoming the first player to achieve the feat. Starting methodically with Kent in a perilous position he, alongside Rouse and Blake, guided Kent to within touching distance of victory, upping his rate late on to ensure they were staying with the required run rate.
A record-breaking 💯 for @HeinoKuhn
— One-Day Cup (@OneDayCup) June 17, 2018
He becomes the first player in English cricket to score 4️⃣ domestic List A hundreds in 5️⃣ matches
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/LvZTFHTnXC pic.twitter.com/qhnK7pGShw
Already proving himself as the best overseas signing of the summer with the ball, having taken 59 wickets across all formats, Matt Henry is also demonstrating his ability in the field. On a day where all of Kent's bowlers contributed, including the evergreen Darren Stevens taking 2/33 of 10 overs, it was Henry's fielding that stood out. Have a watch of this stunning one-handed diving catch to remove the dangerous Joe Clarke.
Cox had done superbly to sure up the teetering Worcestershire ship and set a platform for a late-innings biff. Then in came all-rounder Ed Barnard who was only too happy to take up the opportunity, sending the ball to all parts on the way to his half-century off just 28 balls, ensuring Worcestershire were able to set Kent a challenging total and set up one of the best matches of the summer.
0️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣4️⃣1️⃣4️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣6️⃣2️⃣1️⃣6️⃣2️⃣
— One-Day Cup (@OneDayCup) June 17, 2018
Punishing hitting from @EdBarn95 on the way to his half-century from 28 balls pic.twitter.com/TuuPZVxWAu