Match report day 1: Kent v Lancs in Championship 2004

Match report day 1: Kent v Lancs in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

Scorecard:	Kent v Lancashire
Other links:	Day 2, Day 3, Day 4

Summary for Day 1

Once again Lancashire lost a crucial toss and were forced to toil long and hard in the field. The pitch offered virtually nothing for the visitors bowlers all day long. One had a distinct feeling that Lancashire were up against it after just 5 overs, by which time Kent had posted 36 runs.

Lancashire were forced to make several team changes due to injury or international selection. Martin, Anderson, Flintoff and Hooper were unavailable and Mahmood was surprisingly relegated to 12th man. Dominic Cork and Steven Crook made the team. The former of these 2 players conceded 16 runs in his opening over of the day. It came as a great shock in the 25th over when Fulton (42) played down the wrong line of a delivery from Crook and lost his off stump (83-1). Robert Key and Ed Smith proceeded to launched an aggressive assault against Lancashire's bowlers, especially in the afternoon session, when no wickets fell. The pair added 229 for the second wicket, with Key passing his century and one thousand runs for the season in the 56th and 59th over respectively. Smith reached his first 100 of the season in the penultimate over before tea from just 129 balls (285-1).

8 overs into the final session, Ed Smith (116) hooked carelessly to Gary Keedy at long leg. The spinner taking an excellent low running catch (312-2). Key reached his 150 from 290 balls as Kent maintained an average of 4 runs per over. The new ball was taken in the 93rd over and almost immediately provide Lancashire with their first bowling point. Steven Crook removed the dangerous Symonds for 33 in a similar manner to that of Fulton earlier in the day (398-3). Just as Key looked destined to bat through the day, Chapple managed to get one to nip back and trap the opener in front of his stumps for 180 (402-4).

By the close of play, Kent had reached 416 for 4 from 105 overs. The pitch continued to look very flat and there were very few indications that it would change as the match progresses. However, Lancashire will have to bat well to secure a high scoring draw and the batting line-up lacks the usual depth.

Key Notes of the Day

Kent won the toss and elected to bat
51 for 0 in the 14th over - Fulton 25* Key 21*
Fulton bowled Crook (Off stump) 42 - 83 for 1 in the 25th over - Key 35*
100 for 1 in the 30th over - Key 41* Smith 11*
50 Key from 100 balls (11 x 4) - 118 for 1 in the 35th over - Smith 17*
Lunch - 122 for 1 from 37 overs - Key 51* Smith 21*
50 partnership - 133 for 1 in the 41st over - Key 53* Smith 29*
152 for 1 in the 44th over - Key 68* Smith 33*
100 partnership - 184 for 1 in the 50th over - Key 82* Smith 50* (9 x 4)
201 for 1 in the 56th over - Key 95* Smith 53* - Key reaches 1000 runs for season
100 Key from 186 balls (16 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 224 for 1 in the 59th over - Smith 69*
150 partnership - 234 for 1 in the 63rd over - Key 100* Smith 79*
251 for 1 in the 66th over - Key 109* Smith 83*
100 Smith from 129 balls (15 x 4) + 200 partnership - 284 for 1 in the 74th over - Key 129*
Tea - 285 for 1 in the 75th over - Key 129* Smith 101*
300 for 1 in the 81st over - Key 131* Smith 108*
Smith caught Keedy bowled Hogg 116 (Hook to long leg) - 312 for 2 in the 83rd over - Key 139*
150 Key from 290 balls (17 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 348 for 2 in the 92nd over - Symonds 19*
350 for 2 in the 93rd over - Key 150* Symonds 19*
New ball taken - 355 for 2 in the 93rd over - Key 155* Symonds 19*
50 partnership - 363 for 2 in the 94th over - Key 163* Symonds 19*
Symonds bowled Crook 33 - 398 for 3 in the 102nd over - Key 180*
402 for 3 in the 102nd over - Key 180* Walker 4*
Key lbw bowled Chapple 180 - 402 for 4 in the 103rd over - Walker 4*
Close - 416 for 4 from 105 overs - Walker 9* Carberry 9*
Kent 5 points, Lancashire 1 point