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Kent see off Surrey in St Lawrence run-fest

Ryan McLaren got the prize wicket of Mark Butcher

Kent Spitfires 337-3 beat Surrey Brown Caps 320 all out by 17 runs – Friends Provident Trophy

MARK Butcher’s highest one day score was not enough for Surrey as Kent’s bowlers held their nerve with some disciplined bowling at the death to win a thriller at the St Lawrence Ground.

The former England batsman struck a brisk 139 to set Surrey up for a memorable victory, but Azhar Mahmood took four late wickets to hand Kent victory.

Earlier Martin van Jaarsveld and Darren Stevens hit centuries in a partnership of 216 to give the Spitfires hope of a fifth successive win in the competition.

A flat wicket and benign conditions made the game a batsman’s paradise as more than 650 runs were scored.

Surrey won the toss and opted to field, but could not find an early breakthrough under the early cloud cover. Openers Rob Key and joe Denly batted well before the former flicked Chris Jordan’s first delivery to Mark Ramprakash midway to the boundary.

Denly looked set for a half century but lost his middle stump to Jordan on 46.

The bowler took his third wicket when Justin Kemp went for six to leave Kent on 121-3.

The South African’s departure brought van Jaarsveld and Stevens together and the pair worked well to keep the score ticking over.

With the overs running out and seven wickets still in hand, Stevens took on the initiative to accelerate the scoring. Ably supported by van Jaarsveld he put on 147 from the last 12 overs.

Stevens’ century came from just 67 balls and van Jaarsveld brought up his ton in the same over.

Stevens finished unbeaten on 119, while van Jaarsveld hit 113.

The Brown Caps needed almost seven runs an over, but Butcher kept the scoring rate high with some fluent strokes.

Boosted by an attacking Usman Afzaal, Surrey needed 48 off the last seven overs to win, with seven wickets remaining.

But as the game appeared to be slipping away from the Spitfires, McLaren removed Butcher.

Mahmood and Arafat were then brought into the attack and took the last six wickets in the last five overs.

It was Kent’s fifth successive win in the competition and almost guarantees them a place in the quarter-finals. They can make sure by avoiding defeat against Middlesex next Monday.

For all your Kent news log on to kentnews.co.uk and pick-up your free midweek local paper; available every Wednesday from all good newsagents, supermarkets and petrol stations.

POSTED: 18/05/2008 20:00:00