<
>

Another song in the Key of life

Glamorgan 65 for 4 trail Kent 309 (Key 94, Stevens 64, Dickson 59, Northeast 56, Hogan 4-51) by 244 runs
Scorecard

Kent had the edge after the first day of their LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan in Cardiff produced 14 wickets and 374 runs.

The visitors totalled 309 after winning the toss and choosing to bat in the Division Two contest, before restricting the hosts to 65 for 4 in reply.

Kent were given a rousing start by Rob Key and Sean Dickson, who put on 122 for the second wicket, after Michael Hogan had dismissed Daniel Bell-Drummond with the eighth ball of the morning.

Dickson, who was born in South Africa but has an English mother, was offered a contract by Kent after some impressive performances for the second team - and he scored 56 with an array of attacking strokes before being dismissed in the final over before lunch.

Key, who made a career-best unbeaten 270 in Cardiff six years ago, was in sight of a second century in successive games, but was out for 94 when he edged David Lloyd to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.

Key and Sam Northeast strengthened Kent's position with a stand of 85 for the third wicket, before Northeast, who had previously been dropped twice in an over, edged Hogan to Wallace.

The visitors were in a commanding position at 212 for 2 - but they then lost their last eight wickets for 97.

Most of those runs were scored by Darren Stevens, who struck a six and 10 fours in a belligerent innings of 64 off 61 balls but received little support - four of the last five batsmen failed to score.

Hogan started the Kent collapse after tea when he took a wicket in his first three overs, part of a spell of 3 for 5 in 14 balls.

After their strong start Kent would have been disappointed with their total of 309 - but their bowlers soon made inroads by dismissing Glamorgan's openers in the first two overs.

With Jacques Rudolph in South Africa on paternity leave, and Will Bragg dropped, Glamorgan opened the innings with James Kettleborough, who has not played championship cricket since May, and Jeremy Lawlor - making his championship debut.

Matt Coles squared up Kettleborough with his fourth ball, then Lawlor was bowled by Matthew Hunn playing down the wrong line.

When Colin Ingram and Lloyd were dismissed in the closing overs, Glamorgan had slumped to 65 for 4.

It left Kent satisfied with their day's work on a good pitch prepared by assistant groundsman Robin Saxton, who is now temporarily in charge after Keith Exton left the club last month.

  • Woeful Glamorgan slump to heavy defeat

    Kent inflicted upon Glamorgan their second heaviest post-war defeat in the championship - a woeful display by the home side that will surely bring an inquest

  • Denly and Key set Glamorgan a mountain

    Kent's hopes of making further inroads into Glamorgan's second innings and clinching their fourth LV= County Championship win of the season were held up by bad light in Cardiff

  • Key's hundred pronounces still much to offer

    Kent will start the third day of Glamorgan's final home game of the season with a commanding lead of 358 runs thanks to an unbeaten century from Rob Key as he found late-season form to suggest his career is not yet spent

  • Another song in the Key of life

    Rob Key has summoned some late-season batting form as he shows no inclination of stepping back as a confident young Kent side gathers momentum

Glamorgan 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st5JM KettleboroughJL Lawlor
2nd18DL LloydJM Kettleborough
3rd86CA IngramJM Kettleborough
4th8CA IngramCB Cooke
5th10CA IngramAHT Donald
6th0GG WaggCA Ingram
7th5CA IngramCAJ Meschede
8th23MA WallaceCA Ingram
9th54CA IngramAG Salter
10th28CA IngramMG Hogan