COLCHESTER (Essex won toss): Essex Eagles (4pts) beat Kent Spitfires by 36 runs
ESSEX, with some ease, enhanced their hopes of avoiding relegation but Kent can now possibly lose their first division status for the first time. An opening stand of 196 between Ronnie Irani and Will Jefferson in 32 overs should have ensured a bigger total but, as it often does, altering the batting order proved ineffective.
Irani was run out as he slipped having been sent back but his 111-ball innings contained six huge sixes and six fours whilst Jefferson who also just missed a deserved hundred faced 94 balls striking 11 fours and two sixes.
Kent, after a reasonable start, lost their way and, strangely, Michael Bevan hardly raised a bat in anger.
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ESSEX
W I Jefferson lbw b Loudon 97
*R C Irani run out 98
A Flower c Tredwell b Loudon 27
A R Adams c Fulton b Loudon 17
G R Napier b Ferley 0
A P Grayson st O’Brien b Loudon 8
J D Middlebrook not out 2
R S Bopara not out 5
Extras (b 3, lb 2, w 6, nb 2) 13
Total (6 wkts, 45 overs) 267
J S Foster, D Gough and Danish Kaneria did not bat.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-196, 2-214, 3-246, 4-248, 5-256, 6-261.
BOWLING: Butler 7-0-48-0; Joseph 5-1-25-0; Dennington 8-0-60-0; Ferley 9-0-35-1; Loudon 9-0-48-4; Tredwell 4-0-27-0; Bevan 3-0-19-0.
KENT
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E T Smith run out 61
*D P Fulton c Foster b Napier 39
A G R Loudon b Napier 52
M G Bevan c Adams b Gough 52
M J Walker c Bopara b Gough 6
I G Butler c Foster b Napier 2
J C Tredwell c Grayson b Napier 0
M J Dennington not out 1
R S Ferley not out 1
Extras (b 3, lb 4, w 11) 18
Total (7 wkts, 45 overs) 232
N J O’Brien and R H Joseph did not bat.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-73, 2-130, 3-217, 4-228, 5-228, 6-230, 7-231.
BOWLING: Adams 7-1-48-0; Gough 8-0-31-2; Napier 5-0-25-4; Bopara 1-0-5-0; Danish Kaneria 7-0-31-0; Middlebrook 9-0-41-0; Grayson 8-0-44-0.
Umpires: N G Cowley and J W Holder.