Oh, Crickets a Simple Game

Stern heroics from Ben Compton can do nothing to stop a damaging loss for Kent

Recently, I played my opening match of the season. Set on a beautiful spring morning in the picturesque Phoenix Park, we analyzed the pitch placed in the middle of the quaint and old fashioned Civil Service ground. Dusty, soft and littered with patches of green our initial assessments were that the haphazardly cut pitch was dead and would only deteriorate further from there. So once we won the toss we elected to bat first. Our innings was safeguarded and carried by a sturdy and defiant knock from our no.2 however, poor and identifiable mistakes were at a premium throughout our innings as we slipped to a dismal and under par 153 all out off 43 overs which was comfortably chased in 30 overs and condemned us to a five wicket defeat. It was an entertaining experience but at some points a dull and depressing affair played out in the harsh winds of Phoenix park.

Amazingly, there are parallels which can be drawn between division four of Irish cricket and County Championship division one. Now, obviously, this isn't between the quality or number of spectators or overall levels of professionalism because the county championship humongosly trumps this in all areas, but in thee way Lancashire vs Kent played out. Two, title contending sides, one debuting in this years county championship and the other fresh of a run scoring draw met at the prestigious Spitfire ground to battle out in what was bound to be a gritty down-to-business affair. However, following 137 overs this wasn't the case. Lancashire had won the toss, put themselves in, and scored a hugely competitive 506. Steven Croft shined with his stalwart of an innings (155 off 336) but was closely followed and majorly accompanied by a true, aggressive captain's knock from Dane Vilas (124 off 158). Kent, in turn, were depleted and down trodden. However, it is my overall assessment that they didn't bowl too badly. The brilliant counter attacking class of Salt and Vilas was just simply unstoppable and the gritty, nifty, monumental 155 from Croft was in a world of its own. Past this, the next top score came from Luke Wells and was only a scratchy 39, as well as there being two ducks and seven scores under twenty. So, good batting taking advantage of a friendly pitch accounted for good, quick runs, much like my game against civil service. Next, step up Kent's batters. The likes of Crawely and Cox were in imperious form last time out verses Essex, however neither could find any runs on their home wicket. The serene and batsmen friendliness of the first innings seemed to have been used up as more and more Kent batters were dismissed cheaply. Drummond for 2, Muyeye for 8, Cox for 2 and so on. Much like my match, the mistakes leading too wickets were catalogable and traceable. Going back foot to spin, getting caught in to minds and worst of all not showing any intent on a batting front leading to edges coming from nothing prods. Kent had only themselves to blame for the way they were reduced to 260 all out and held to a 246 run deficit. The only bright spark was a defiant and determined 104 not out from Ben Compton (cousin of Nick). The ever promising youngster provided the rock to the innings, the much needed stability. Knowing exactly when to attack and when to defend, he was never caught prodding or in two minds. He was firmly forward to each lavishly turning Parkinson delivery whilst still providing flair in his 12 boundaries. He deservingly held his bat and in so had shone others how to bat on this wicket.

Unsurprisingly, over 200 runs behind, Kent were made bat again by the ever ruthless Vilas. And, once more, as if they had learnt nothing from the masterclass by Compton in innings one, the Kent batsman followed down the root of the same mistakes of the first innings and found themselves down and out at 82-7. With Crawely 5, Cox 1 and Stevens 1. Going back and negatively to Parkinson allowed him to get the ball to grip and turn. The amount of time afforded to him by batsman camping on the back foot allowed the young spinner to incorporate useful flight and lavish turn with the option of the straight one as a set up, and this worked wonders. Earning him 7 match wickets on an April track. However, all wasn't done yet. With Compton continuing on his masterclass as if it had just been paused not finished he was Joined by Qadri, a batsman who finally took the learning of front foot to the spinners and decisive to the seamers on board. The pair grinded through a very difficult stage and came out on top, Qadri being eventually dismissed for 77 off 177 balls and having added 134 runs as part of a partnership with his opener. Compton continued on in the absence of his partner to back to back centauries, a truly incredible and amazing feet proving why he is a model of the future and an outside pick for England. By the time he was dismissed as the last man, agonizingly close to carrying his bat twice in the match (a feet only ten batsman in the past have achieved in test cricket) and having scored 219 runs only getting out once. Also, he had almost single handedly done the impossible, dragged Kent from certain innings loosing embarrassment to a lead, slender yes, but still a lead which is really quite staggering. Even though Lancashire pulled off an easy ten wicket victory that feet will not be forgotten. However, unlucky bowling in the face of good batting partnered with poor batting featuring traceable and fixable mistakes shares a lot of similarities with Merrion fours versus Civil Service threes.

So, This match leaves Lancashire fourth in Division one with one win out of one, and Kent slip to sixth below Yorkshire who blustered through an entertaining victory away to Gloucestershire.

Ok, that was my takeaway match from round two, keep watching the County Championship and see you next week!