NatWest T20 Blast: Gloucestershire see off Kent in low-scoring contest
Tuesday 1 August 2017 16:55, UK
Gloucestershire got the better of Kent in a low-scoring contest in Canterbury on Tuesday night, winning by eight runs.
Defending a total of just 138-9, Gloucestershire's bowlers stepped up - slow-left-arm spinner Tom Smith taking 3-28 and seamers Benny Howell (2-12) and Thisara Perera (3-31) also impressing - as Kent were bundled out for 130.
Ian Cockbain earlier impressed with the bat for the visitors, top-scoring with 40, cracking five fours and a six in his 32-ball knock.
He was, however, one of two victims for Kent slow-left-armer Imran Qayyum (2-19) in his impressive four-over spell - the other being George Hankins (14) as Gloucestershire slipped to 96-4 after 15 overs.
Daniel Bell-Drummond earlier took a fine catch over his shoulder to see the back of Phil Mustard (7) off James Neesham (2-30), while Mitchell Claydon (2-24) accounted for the equally dangerous Michael Klinger (25).
Jack Taylor (21) and man-of-the-match Howell (26) did well in the middle-order, though the later was the last of three Gloucester batsmen to be run out in the final four balls of the innings as they rather stuttered to a finish.
Kent got off to a strong start in their reply - Bell-Drummond bashing five boundaries in his 25 off 18 balls and Joe Denly (18 off 17) striking two sixes.
But once the openers departed - Denly the first of Smith's victims - the Kent run-chase faded away, with no other batsman bar No 11 Qayyum scoring at greater than a run a ball.
England's Sam Billings (15) as well as Alex Blake (19) and veteran Darren Stevens (15) briefly threatened, but it wasn't to be enough as Kent slipped to defeat, eventually bowled out off the final ball.
