Kent Spitfires v Essex Eagles
Vitality Blast
The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
Team News:
Kent Spitfires: Sam Billings (c & wk), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Jack Leaning, Jordan Cox, George Linde, Qais Ahmad, Matt Milnes, Fred Klaassen, Matt Quinn.
Essex Eagles: Adam Rossington(wk), Tom Westley, Michael Pepper, Will Buttleman, Daniel Sams, Paul Walter, Matt Critchley, Simon Harmer (c), Aron Nijjar, Ben Allison, Sam Cook.
Match Details:
Umpires: Mark Newell & Martin Saggers
Toss: Kent Spitfires, who elected to bat
Result: Essex Eagles win by 4 wickets
Scorecard: View Here
Match Reaction:
Paul Walter celebrates a opening match win over rivals, Kent
Match Report:
The Essex Eagles won their opening game in this year’s Vitality Blast to succumb the Kent Spitfires to back-to-back defeats. Paul Walter top-score with an unbeaten 47 as Essex won by four wickets in a tense derby at Canterbury.
Kent won the toss in what was billed as ‘The Battle of The Bridge’ and chose to bat, however, the Essex bowlers bowled well, not allowing batters to settle.
Matt Critchley had the Eagles’ best bowling figures with one for 16. But was backed up as well by spin duo Aron Nijjar and Skipper Simon Harmer, who also took key Wickets. As they restricted Kent to 184 for 4.
After the break, debut opening pair Adam Rossington and Will Buttlman got off to a flyer taking 17 from Denly’s opening over with Adam Rossington blasting 29 from 16 balls, before being bowled by Fred Klaassen. Opening partner Will Buttleman went onto score 37.
Paul Walter came in as wickets started to fall, but the all-rounder who has been in great form this season managed to help the team home, with help from Harmer. He top-scored with an unbeaten 47 as Essex won the opening game of their Vitality T20 Blast campaign.
