Donald’s maiden white-ball century leads Hampshire to victory
Hampshire 326 for 7 (Donald 106, Prest 78, Brown 73, Parkinson 4-69) beat Kent 325 for 8 (Bell-Drummond 150, Finch 54, Holland 3-45) by three wickets
Aneurin Donald produced his damaging greatest to attain the primary white-ball century of his profession as Hampshire beat Kent Spitfires by three wickets in a nervy journey to the Isle of Wight.
Daniel Bell-Drummond had totted up 150 in an excellent innings, his greatest List A rating for Kent, after sizeable stands with Harry Finch and Alex Blake however it wasn’t defended regardless of Matt Parkinson twice being on a hat-trick.
Defending champions Kent was eradicated by Lancashire’s victory whereas Hampshire, who have been already by means of, will play Worcestershire on Sunday in a quarter-final on the Ageas Bowl.
Kent selected to bat and Joe Denly was dropped earlier than chopping Ian Holland on in a brief keep, with Jack Leaning bowled by returning Hundred man Mason Crane’s first ball of the day.
But the Spitfires took management on an ideal batting pitch by means of Bell-Drummond and Finch, each have been distinctive at milking the bowling and sapping the vitality of fielders and bowlers alike within the warmth.
Bell-Drummond rolled by means of the gears mentioning his third half-century on the competitors in 65, with Finch following in 60 deliveries. Finch was bowled by Eddie Jack to finish a 134-ball stand, however that solely kick-started a blitzkrieg between Bell-Drummond and Blake.
Bell-Drummond reached his seventh List A century in 108 balls and Blake smashed 26 off a Dom Kelly over throughout a 98-run partnership in slightly over 11 overs.
Blake’s dismissal for 46, lbw trying to reverse Crane, noticed 5 wickets fall for 35 runs because the guests slowed down – regardless of reaching their highest List A rating versus Hampshire.
Holland had Grant Stewart and Bell-Drummond caught swinging to return 3 for 45, with Hamidullah Qadri and Nathan Gilchrist additionally departing.
Hampshire wanted to chase the 325 down in roughly 32 overs to beat Leicestershire to prime spot in Group A.
Fletcha Middleton was caught and bowled by Jaydn Denly however Prest kicked the innings into gear with the adhesive Brown. Prest’s third rating over 50 within the competitors was filled with attractive shot-making which included eight fours and a six which thumped into the bumper crowd of about 2,500.
His 78 in 75 was merely the amuse-bouche to Donald’s predominant course. He tottered alongside at round a run-a-ball for his first 25 balls earlier than exploding.
He began by virtually sending Qadri over his head and again to the mainland earlier than turning to his trusted slog-sweep to take down Parkinson and Denly with 5 extra sixes. The Welshman survived a missed stumping, a catch on the boundary when Gilchrist stepped on the rope and Denly spilling a straightforward catch at cowl.
Brown – after 73 off 77 – and Joe Eckland fell in successive balls to Parkinson earlier than Donald reached a preferred century in an astonishing 71 balls.
He was bowled by Qadri to depart 37 nonetheless wanted in seven overs. Holland and Keith Barker’s dismissals to Parkinson in back-to-back balls noticed the sport shut again up. But Felix Organ’s 30 not out steadied issues earlier than Crane gained it with a six and a bow.