August 9, 2024

Jack Leaning 81* Guides Kent to Thrilling Win Over Derbyshire

In a gripping Metro Bank One-Day Cup match at Derby, Jack Leaning’s unbeaten 81 off 117 balls led Kent to a dramatic three-wicket win over Derbyshire. Chasing 207 for victory, Kent was struggling at 106 for 6, but Leaning and Grant Stewart, who scored 48 off 39 balls, turned the game around. They added crucial runs, and Leaning, with Matt Parkinson, contributed 33 runs from 43 balls, securing the win with 28 balls to spare, ending the match at 207 for 7.

Brooke Guest had played a stellar inning, scoring 85 from 117 balls, and shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 75 with Harry Moore, who made a career-best 40. This partnership helped Derbyshire post 206. Parkinson took 3 for 23, and Kent’s bowlers performed well on a challenging pitch, with George Garrett finding late movement to dismiss Harry Came.

Derbyshire faced a series of soft dismissals during their innings. Luis Reece was run out in the seventh over due to a direct hit from cover. David Lloyd was dismissed when he drove a low return catch to Grant Stewart. Matt Parkinson’s effective spell then put Derbyshire under pressure.

Guest and Anuj Dal kept the scoreboard moving with quick singles and twos, but Parkinson tempted Dal into a big shot, which was caught long-on. Samit Patel hit the only six of the innings off Jas Singh but was later dismissed by Parkinson with a slower ball, driving it to cover.

Yousaf Bin Naeem was out lbw, leaving Derbyshire at 109 for 6, with Guest’s 50 off 77 balls being an essential contribution. George Garrett then bowled Zak Chappell with a late inswinger. Despite this, Harry Moore supported Guest well, adding valuable runs. Moore played aggressively, hitting three consecutive fours off Jas Singh in the 44th over.

Guest’s impressive innings ended when he was caught pulling Charlie Stobo to mid-wicket, and Moore was run out in the 47th over by a direct hit from cover.

Derbyshire gave their bowlers a challenging target, but Harry Moore made a key breakthrough by dismissing Marcus O’Riordan, who was caught behind down the leg side. Moore then saw Joey Evison drop at the first slip. Still, Leaning took advantage by hitting him for four boundaries in the following over.

Daryn Dupavillon provided much-needed inspiration with a stunning one-handed catch at mid-on off Patel, dismissing Evison for 32. Patel struck again soon after, removing Jaydn Denley, who was caught at long-on while trying to pull, leaving Kent at 78 for 3.

Derbyshire sensed an opportunity when Harry Finch played a loose shot and was caught by David Lloyd at slip off Pat Brown’s delivery. The pressure mounted on Kent, leading to two more wickets falling quickly. Ekansh Singh was caught at mid-wicket off Chappell, and Charlie Stobo edged Patel to slip while trying to play a leg-side shot.

Despite the pressure, Leaning brought hope to Kent with a solid 50 off 79 balls. He, along with Grant Stewart, fought back. Stewart hit two sixes off Brown and seemed to be steering Kent to victory until Moore caught him at fine leg off Chappell’s delivery.

Leaning then struck three fours off Moore and, with Matt Parkinson, guided Kent to a crucial win. This victory keeps Kent’s slim hopes of making the knockout stages alive while hurting Derbyshire’s chances of qualifying.

Miles Hammond Goes Big to Keep Gloucestershire’s Quarter-final Hopes Alive

Miles Hammond’s impressive 157 led Gloucestershire to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge as they chased down a challenging target of 333 runs. This win keeps Gloucestershire in the running for a quarter-final spot in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Nottinghamshire’s Haseeb Hameed scored 105, his second century of the tournament, and was supported by Lyndon James with 61 and Tom Moores with 40. Their efforts helped Nottinghamshire reach 332 in 49.3 overs. Gloucestershire’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Graeme van Buuren taking 3 for 40.

In response, Gloucestershire’s chase was anchored by a solid 151-run opening partnership between Hammond, who hit 22 fours and five sixes, and Cameron Bancroft (52). Ollie Price added an unbeaten 61, guiding Gloucestershire to victory with 20 balls to spare.

With only one game left, Gloucestershire cannot catch Group B leaders Glamorgan and Warwickshire. However, this win moves them into third place, surpassing the defending champions Leicestershire. Leicestershire still have a game in hand against Glamorgan on Sunday and will face Gloucestershire in their final group match next Wednesday at Bristol.

Gloucestershire will need to make changes as England Lions call-ups for Ollie Price, Zaman Akhter, and Ajeet Singh Dale will see them miss both the final group game and, if they qualify, the quarter-final.

Nottinghamshire still has a chance to secure the third knockout spot, but they must win both of their remaining matches to stay in contention.

Miles Hammond had a stroke of luck when Haseeb Hameed missed a chance to catch him at 14 off Brett Hutton. Hammond capitalized by hitting a six over the short boundary and cleared it twice more in an over off Rob Lord.

Freddie McCann, the 19-year-old off-spinner, finally made a breakthrough by trapping Cameron Bancroft leg-before-wicket with a delivery from round the wicket.

Miles Hammond scored a brilliant 153 from just 109 balls, reaching his century off 81 balls and hitting two more sixes—one-off Rob Lord and another off Luke Fletcher. He was dismissed lbw by leg-spinner Calvin Harrison while attempting a sweep. Despite some tricky moments with the pitch assisting Harrison and left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (who bowled James Bracey for 18), Ollie Price’s unbeaten 57-run partnership with Ben Charlesworth ensured a comfortable victory for Gloucestershire.

Nottinghamshire, batting first, got off to a strong start with 56 runs without loss by the ninth over. However, after a solid innings from Ben Slater (38), McCann (who was caught off Tom Smith), and Jack Haynes falling to Zaman Akhter, they were 73 for 3.

Lyndon James, who also has a call-up to face Sri Lanka next week, scored his second half-century of the tournament. He and Haseeb Hameed rebuilt the innings, with James reaching 50 from 51 balls and Hameed following shortly with his half-century from 56 balls. Their partnership added 80 runs in nine overs, pushing Nottinghamshire towards a total above 350.

Hameed reached his century from 92 balls with a six off Dom Goodman but was out shortly after, caught by Tom Smith while trying to advance down the pitch. The innings ended chaotically, with Nottinghamshire losing their last six wickets in the final seven overs despite Liam Patterson-White hitting three sixes in a quick 29. Graeme van Buuren claimed three wickets in 12 balls to close the innings.