Match Preview: Kent (H)

Derbyshire’s final home group game in the Metro Bank One Day Cup sees them entertain Kent in the 49th scheduled meeting between the two counties.

Heritage Officer David Griffin previews the game with a look back over their previous contests.

Although Kent were scheduled to face Derbyshire in a one day game at Derby in 2022 the match was abandoned as a result of heavy overnight rain meaning that the sides haven’t taken the field in this format of the game since 2012.

That was the first match abandoned in this series of games although there were two further ‘no result’ matches at Chesterfield in 1983 and Derby in 2005.

One game ended in a tie, at Derby in 1996 when a rain-shortened contest only 25 overs per side were available, Derbyshire scoring 183 for six with Philip DeFreitas making an explosive 72 from 37 balls with five sixes. Kent began well but required 11 runs from the final over which proved to be beyond them.

Derbyshire have won 16 matches to Kent’s 28 with the highest profile fixture being the Benson and Hedges Cup Final in 1978 when Kent beat Eddie Barlow’s Derbyshire side by six wickets.

Arguably more memorable, however, was the Sunday league game at Chesterfield in 1990 when Kim Barnett’s magnificent 127 helped his side to a record-breaking 277 for four with 10 balls to spare and a victory by six wickets. Defeat would have ended Derbyshire’s hopes of winning the title, but this result kept them in the hunt and three weeks later Barnett lifted the RAL trophy in front of 10,000 supporters at Derby.

One of Derbyshire more unlikely wins in one day cricket was against Kent at Derby in 1984 after the visitors had made an imposing 255-6 off 40 overs.

The Kent bowling attack included Richard Ellison, who would play a significant part in England’s Ashes triumph in 1985, plus Kevin Jarvis and the Australian, Terry Alderman. Cowdrey and Chris Penn were their other bowlers.

In front of a large crowd, Derbyshire’s reply saw Barnett (1) leg before to Ellison in the first over, and Alan Hill (8) went soon afterwards with wickets falling at regular intervals despite Bill Fowler’s 41. At 142-8, the match was as good as over, and the familiar PA announcement came from Ken Roe who advised early leavers that the St Marks Road gate was open. Dozens of spectators took up the option and a steady stream of vehicles drove out of the ground via the track at the rear of the grassed bank.

Dallas Moir, batting at number 9, was joined by Bob Taylor, with only Ian Broome still to bat, and they began to add runs at a steady rate and with the occasional boundary which brought ironic cheers from the remaining crowd, although there can have been nobody in the crowd who thought they were watching anything but the last rites.

However, as the runs continued to come, and at a good rate, the running between the wickets became more hurried – the diminutive Taylor scampering up and down, while the giant Moir seemingly only needed just a handful of strides to get up and down the pitch.

Moir’s principal shot was the heave into the legside after planting his front leg down the pitch, and suddenly Derbyshire found themselves within distance of victory. The general feeling around the ground was still that Kent were favourites because one wicket would surely be enough for them. But Moir reached his fifty and then the pair brought up the hundred partnership – which remained the highest-ever for the 9th wicket in domestic one day cricket in England until 2006.

The running was desperate, and a mix-up resulted in Moir’s dismissal for 79 – off 50 balls – and brought an end to the partnership which had realised 105 runs.

There were still 9 runs required off 6 balls when Moir was dismissed, and once again the game had swung in Kent’s favour. Not renowned for big hitting, Taylor smashed the 4th ball of the final over of the match for 6 leaving the bowler Ellison standing in mid-pitch, hands on hips as the ball sailed into the crowd, scarcely believing what had happened.

Derbyshire’s highest innings total is 304 for three at Maidstone in 2005 when Michael Di Venuto scored a magnificent 80-ball hundred ensuring a 90 runs win for his side, while Kent’s best of 295 for four came in their 76 runs win at Derby in 1994.

Derbyshire lowest all out total against Kent is also their lowest in List A cricket; 60 all out at Canterbury in 2008 resulted in a heavy nine wicket defeat, while Kent’s lowest all out total is 139 at Canterbury in 1989 when Derbyshire won by 25 runs.

Derbyshire batters have registered four one day hundreds against Kent with Chris Adams’ unbeaten 141 at Chesterfield in 1992 topping the list. Adams struck 10 sixes in that innings – a club record – including one which was caught by Devon Malcolm on the pavilion balcony.

Barnett had made the first hundred in 1990, and following Di Venuto’s 116 at Maidstone, Martin Guptill made 102 at Derby in 2011, the highest score by a Derbyshire player on debut in List A cricket.

There have also been four Kent centurions, Carl Hooper scoring the first, at Derby in 1994. Mark Ealham’s 112 at Maidstone in 1995 came after Kent had been 105 for five from 26 overs before he struck a 44-ball hundred hitting nine sixes and nine fours. The other tons were scored by Rob Key at Derby in 2007 and by Sam Billings at Canterbury in 2012.

With the ball, the best bowling figures were recorded by Michael Holding who took four for 18 at Canterbury in 1989, while Kent’s best are the still scarcely believable six for nine by Bob Woolmer at Chesterfield in 1979.

Friday cricket at The County Ground!

Derbyshire face Kent in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup this Friday! Tickets start at £15 for adults and just £3 for juniors.

Tickets on sale now – buy in advance to save!