Kent 325 for 8 (Denly 65, Evison 62) beat Leicestershire 244 (Mulder 81, Steel 65, Stewart 4-42, Podmore 3-35) by 81 runs
If Stevens’ intervention with the bat felt completely predictable – 41 from 24 balls with The Meet Café & Bar at deep midwicket fearing partial demolition from his wrecking ball – his bowling spell was a bonus. Ten overs in mid-innings for 37 runs felt as if Leicestershire had taken their largesse too far as he was met conservatively all through. He had a towel down earlier than his remaining over, as if decided to see the job via, and suitably someone ought to have introduced him out just a little stool to sit down on whereas they did it.
Grace Road is likely one of the quieter grounds on the circuit, even of their first residence knockout tie for 11 years, however sporadic cries of “Stevo” punctuated the day, typically for no particular cause. Perhaps a few of them got here from Leicestershire supporters who would love him to return for a remaining 12 months. Coincidentally that knockout tie was additionally towards Kent when Paul Nixon, now their head coach, made 31 in a 3-wicket win. Considering the ECB’s machinations, it is a toss-up who’s probably nonetheless to be round one other 11 years from now – Leicestershire or Stevens.
His final ball ought to have been the proper end. Scott Steel, who fulfilled the anchor position for Leicestershire a lot as Ben Compton had executed beforehand for Kent, risked a leg-aspect choose-up, nevertheless it fell to the twelfth man, James Logan, on the half volley and trundled for 4. By the time he left the sector, his duties full, Stevens’ palms had been nonetheless on hips in delicate-mannered exasperation, however his job had been executed.
Leicestershire nonetheless wanted 196 from 21 at 9.33 an over at that time and regardless that they’d seven wickets left they by no means actually made contact with it. A flurry of runs after which Steel swung relatively mindlessly at a brief ball from Nathan Gilchrist to sky one straight up within the air and fall for 65 from 94 balls.
Kent’s early incursions got here via Harry Podmore, whose profession has been so curtailed by harm {that a} decade after his county debut for Middlesex he was enjoying solely his 99th match throughout all codecs. That he was match and firing was a substantial bonus. His first wicket was a little bit of a gimme as Nicky Welch slapped him to level, however he bowled Rishi Patel and Lous Kimber with glorious deliveries that seamed again via the gate. Grant Stewart made quick shrift of the tail to complete with 4 for 42.
Stevens’ innings had been marked by a succession of flat bats with Ed Barnes conceding three of his 4 sixes, sufficient for Barnes to complete with undistinguished figures of two for 75 in eight overs. Leicestershire set two quick thirds to him and appeared to have a concept, nevertheless it did not come off. It was one other South African who carried Leicestershire’s battle with the ball, Beuran Hendricks, a lithe left-armer who’s extra slippery than he appears to be like, the choose of their assault with 2 for 35.
Half-centuries from Evison and Compton in a gap stand of 95 in 18 overs handed Kent an initiative that they by no means relinquished. Evison drove Kimber from the assault with three sixes in two overs between straight and lengthy-on earlier than he was dismissed attempting to comb Steel; Compton, his off stump clipped by Mulder as he performed defensively, made 56 from 80 balls with solely 4 boundaries and was in all probability out at an ideal time, though he loves batting so may not suppose so. A 3rd Kent half-century, this time from Joe Denly, saved Leicestershire at bay.
David Hopps writes on county cricket for ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps