Kent v Essex Day One - Lunch report

On a true Canterbury pitch having won the toss, Kent reached 99-2 at lunch

 

Bryce McGain made his Essex debut whilst David Masters was recalled after missing the previous match with Yorkshire with Chris Wright the man to make way.

 

It was Masters who opened the bowling from the Pavilion End and Joe Denly posted the first runs of the day when turning a ball to the deep fine leg boundary before opener Robert Key announced his return to fitness.

 

The Kent captain has been out for three weeks with a broken little finger but pulling the first ball of the second over to the boundary with Maurice Chambers the bowler punished.

 

The total had moved onto 24 without loss after half an hour’s play when Ravi Bopara left the field holding his right side having apparently aggravated a previous injury that had prevented him from bowling in the last three matches.

 

Twelfth man Grant Flower took over and Bopara failed to re-appear before lunch.

 

More positive occurrence for the visitors came with the first wicket of the day shortly after Bopara’s departure with the total on 26 and in the eighth over. Key was the man to go for 13 when turning Chambers into the leg side where Jaik Mickleburgh took a sharp catch at forward short leg.  

 

The bowler was given one more over before being withdrawn with figures of 5-0-22-1 and the home batsmen adopted a watchful approach as they avoided further demise with judicious shot-selection.

 

With the total on 58-1, leg-spinner McGain joined the attack for the first time bowling from the Nackington Road end but after a single was taken by Sam northeast, Denly produced a cover drive that raced to the boundary as 5 runs were gathered  from the over.

 

With the total on 79-1 and 23 overs bowled, Chambers also left the field to be replaced until lunch by Wright who became the second substitute on the field for the visitors.

 

Northeast was beginning to play with some freedom but was destined to become McGain’s first wicket for Essex. With the last ball of his fourth over, the Australian had Northeast caught for 25 out of 82 when the young Kent batsman drove straight and Flower, stationed at long-off to take a running catch in the long-on position.

 

New batsman Martin van Jaarsveld joined the vigilant Denly in an unbroken partnership through until lunch with the South African scoring 15 of the 17 runs added for the third wicket.

 

McGain had figures of 6-0-35-1 at lunch, Chambers 8-0-24-1, Carter 4-0-13-0 and Masters 11-2-22-0.

Scoreboard:

Kent 99-2 wickets from 29 overs, Denly 39 not out, van Jaarsveld 15 not out.