WORCESTER (Worcestershire won the toss): Worcestershire Royals (2pts) beat Kent Spitfires by five runs
A BRILLIANT all-round performance by the India opening bowler, Zaheer Khan, paved the way for Worcestershire to snatch a dramatic victory after Kent were cruising at 135 for one after 25 overs.
In a nerve-racking finale, Kent required 36 off the last four overs and after losing Martin van Jaarsveld off the first ball, and with Tyron Henderson run out off the last, the run-rate continued to climb as wickets tumbled, leaving the visiting team needing 21 off the final over with Worcestershire fielding as though their lives depended on the result.
Given the perfect platform of a second-wicket stand of 97 between Darren Stevens and Van Jaarsveld, Kent succumbed to a combination of the home side’s enthusiasm in the field and some tight bowling by Gareth Batty and Ray Price. They lost wickets at regular intervals with Zaheer coming back after a wayward first over to claim four wickets.
Earlier, Zaheer made 42 off 43 balls to help the home side to recover and set a respectable total after they collapsed from 113 for one to 178 for eight.
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Lou Vincent and Vikram Solanki laid the foundations for a competitive target, adding 95 in a second-wicket partnership in 13 overs, but after James Tredwell struck to separate the pair and quickly followed up with the wickets of Graeme Hick and Steve Davies, it was left to Zaheer and Matt Mason to rescue the home side.