Cricket

Kent Spitfires emerged victorious in a rain-affected Vitality Blast match against Gloucestershire, securing an eight-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Despite Gloucestershire's strong bowling performance, Kent's Daniel Bell-Drummond played a pivotal role in setting a competitive target.Gloucestershire's David Payne showcased his exceptional bowling skills, claiming four wickets for just 25 runs in four overs. The home side's openers, Miles Hammond and Cameron Bancroft, provided a solid start with a 23-run partnership. However, the rain arrived prematurely, forcing a delay in play.Upon resumption, Kent's Nathan Gilchrist struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Bancroft and James Bracey. With Gloucestershire chasing a revised target of 145 from 19 overs, the rain returned, dashing their hopes of victory. The game was eventually abandoned, leaving Kent with a fortuitous win that keeps their knockout stage aspirations alive.Bell-Drummond's 76-run knock off 52 balls proved crucial for Kent. He formed partnerships of 56 and 54 with Joey Evison and Grant Stewart, respectively. Gloucestershire's Ollie Price also impressed with two wickets for 26 runs.Kent's victory keeps their slim chances of progressing to the knockout stages alive, while Gloucestershire's hopes of a top-four finish in the South Group have been dented. The West Country derby against Somerset on Sunday will be a crucial match for Gloucestershire as they aim to stay in contention.

Kent's Daniel Bell-Drummond guided his team to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Lancashire in the Vitality County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford. The Kent skipper's unbeaten 79 steered his side to their target of 164, securing their first win on the ground since 1997.Lancashire's bowlers, led by Nathan Lyon and Tom Hartley, posed a significant challenge to Kent's batters. However, the Kent top order remained resilient, keeping the scoreboard ticking over despite the difficult batting conditions. Lyon eventually dismissed Ben Compton for 29 and Jack Leaning for 16, but these wickets failed to derail Kent's momentum.Bell-Drummond's partnership with Compton had laid the foundation for Kent's victory, and he continued to anchor the innings with aplomb. Joe Denly struck the winning four to finish on 19 not out, completing Kent's first win of the season.Lyon finished with figures of 2 for 48 from 22 overs, while Hartley bowled 13 wicketless overs for 42 runs. The victory lifts Kent to sixth in the First Division table, while Lancashire remain winless and bottom of the pile.

Kent's Daniel Bell-Drummond showcased his exceptional batting prowess on day one of their Vitality County Championship clash against Surrey at Canterbury. Despite a rain-affected start, Bell-Drummond's elegant 70 and a crucial partnership with Jack Leaning (30*) propelled Kent to a respectable 113 for 3 at stumps.The match commenced with a somber tribute to the late Kent and England legend Derek Underwood, who passed away on Monday. Both teams observed a minute's silence in front of the Underwood & Knott stand, honoring his legacy. The memory of Surrey's Raman Subba Row, who passed away on Wednesday, was also acknowledged.The weather played a significant role, wiping out all but 11 balls of the first two sessions. However, conditions improved late in the afternoon, allowing for a resumption of play at 4.15pm. Surrey's Dan Worrall made an early impact, dismissing Zak Crawley and Ben Compton to reduce Kent to 8 for 2.Bell-Drummond and Leaning then combined for a crucial 100-run partnership, stabilizing Kent's innings. Bell-Drummond reached his half-century with a crisp four through cover off Worrall. However, he was dismissed in the penultimate over of the day, trapped leg before by Tom Lawes.Night-watcher George Garrett remained unbeaten on one at stumps, ensuring Kent ended the day in a relatively strong position. Surrey's bowlers, led by Worrall's 2 for 33, will be looking to make further inroads on day two.