Bell-Drummond steers Kent to Old Trafford win
- Experience the thrilling victory as Bell-Drummond leads Kent to triumph at Old Trafford, showcasing exceptional skill and determination in a memorable match.
In the County Championship encounter at Old Trafford, Daniel Bell-Drummond scored an undefeated 79 to lead Kent to a well-earned seven-wicket victory over Lancashire.
The Kent skipper has now topped fifty in four of his eight innings this season but he and the other Kent hitters had to resist a trial by spin before achieving their target of 164 and completing their county’s first win on the ground since 1997.
After Lancashire followed on for the first time since 1888, both Nathan Lyon and Tom Hartley produced several false shots in the opening hour of play, and umpires Paul Pollard and Graham Lloyd rejected numerous loud appeals.
Still, it was notable that Lancashire bowled zero maidens on the last day of play and that Kent’s top order kept the scoreboard ticking over despite challenging batting conditions.
Lyon claimed both of the wickets, firstly by trapping and bowling Ben Compton for 29, ending his 86-run partnership with Bell-Drummond, and then by having Jack Leaning caught at slip by Luke Wells for 16.
However, the game concluded in a flurry of boundaries as the visitors achieved their first victory of the season eight minutes before the planned lunch break. Those wickets never threatened to cause a collapse.
To end on 19 not out, Joe Denly hit the winning four. Hartley bowled 13 wicketless overs for 42 runs, but Lyon grabbed 2-48.
Kent climbs up to sixth in the Division One rankings with their first Championship win over Lancashire since 2013. Lancashire is remains at the bottom of the table and has not won this season.
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