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Statistical Preview: Kent

Sunday 17th September 2017
& News
Written by Danny Painter

Derbyshire play their final home fixture of the season at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield, when Kent are the visitors, from Tuesday 19 September; 10.30am start.

Heritage Officer, David Griffin, looks at the statistical background to games between the two sides at Chesterfield.

This will be only the sixth time in the Club’s history that a first-class game at Chesterfield has started in September, while this will be the latest a game has ever begun at that venue.

Between 1898 and 1974, Derbyshire never took cricket to Queen’s Park in September – indeed, rarely was cricket played in that month anyway.

But in 1975, Derbyshire played Leicestershire in a game famous for the departure at stumps on Day Two of Chris Balderstone, who was 51 not out at the time. He travelled to Belle Vue to play football for Doncaster against Brentford before returning the following morning to complete his hundred and take three wickets as Leicestershire won, and in the process, secured the County Championship.

The most recent September trip to Chesterfield was in 2007, when the summer floods resulted in the postponement of the Festival until early in September when Nottinghamshire were the visitors.

Kent first played at Chesterfield in 1907 and ran out comfortable winners, while their last visit was in 1992, when the match ended in a draw. Annoyed at Derbyshire’s refusal to declare on the final day, several Kent supporters walked behind the bowler’s arm at the Pavilion End, halting play on two occasions.

The sides have met 18 times at Chesterfield, with Derbyshire winning four times, their opponents eight, with six drawn games.

Derbyshire’s highest innings score is 514-5 declared in 1990, a game Derbyshire won by 10 wickets. Peter Bowler made 210 – the highest score for Derbyshire against Kent at Queen’s Park – and Bruce Roberts 100 not out. Ian Bishop took 6-71 in the Kent first innings, and Martin Jean-Jacques 6-60 in the second.

There have been nine hundreds scored by eight players for Derbyshire against Kent at Chesterfield; by Kim Barnett (2), Garnett Lee, Harry Storer, Alan Revill, Ian Buxton, Iain Anderson, Peter Bowler and Bruce Roberts.

The best bowling figures were recorded by TS ‘Stan’ Worthington who took 8-41 in 1928. Despite Worthington’s efforts, Derbyshire lost the game to a Kent side containing indisputable greats of the county game in Frank Woolley, Les Ames and AP ‘Tich’ Freeman. Freeman, when he took his first wicket of the game, reached a season’s total of 150 first class wickets! The game began on 7th July.

Finally, in 1983, Kim Barnett and Iain Anderson opened the innings against Kent at Chesterfield and added 158 for the first wicket in the first innings, and 109 for the first wicket in the second innings. This was only the second time in the Club’s history (and to date still is) that there had been an opening partnership of 100 runs or more for the first wicket in both innings of a match. Barry Wood and John Wright were the first pair to do it in 1980 against Worcestershire at New Road.

Derbyshire’s final home game is vs Kent at Chesterfield. Save £4 by purchasing your matchday tickets in advance. While further discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.

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