Kent 2nd XI vs Surrey 2nd XI: Match Report - Kia Oval Skip to main content
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Centuries from Harry Finch (167) and Tawanda Muyeye (119) meant that Day Two of the Second XI Championship match between Surrey and Kent was dictated by the hosts as they closed on 401/6 at Beckenham, while Yousef Majid pulled things back for the visitors with three wickets late in the day.

After Day One was called off due to a wet outfield, particularly in the areas around the bowlers’ run-ups, Day Two turned out to be a difficult one for Surrey’s bowlers as they found it tough to make inroads into the Kent batting line-up for the first two sessions. In the evening session however, the Three Feathers bounced back, taking five wickets for 120 runs, as spinners Majid and Amar Virdi shared four between them.

With Kent put in to bat, openers Marcus O’Riordan and Harry Finch started solidly and steadily as Gus Atkinson and James Taylor took the new ball.

The duo negotiated the first hour of the morning and crossed 50 in the 15th over before Atkinson broke the deadlock at 74 with a delivery that climbed onto O’Riordan as he chipped the ball to Dan Moriarty at mid-off for 30.

His departure brought the 22-year-old Muyeye to the crease, who shared an excellent partnership of 246 runs with Finch and placed Kent in a dominant position. During their time in the middle, both batters crossed the three-figure mark.

Finch passed the milestone with an elegant on-drive off the bowling of Taylor in the 49th over while his partner did so with a lofted cover drive for four off Virdi in the 64th over.

Nick Kimber’s well-directed bouncer in the 71st over, helped by wicket-keeper Josh Blake’s athletic one-handed grab, ended Muyeye’s innings of 119 and welcomed Alex Blake to the middle with Kent on 320.

Soon after, Majid clean bowled Finch for 167 with an accurate arm ball in the 74th over, uprooting the batter’s leg stump. With Kent at 338/3, right before the second new ball became available, the 19-year-old left-armer led Surrey’s fight back and picked up two more in quick succession.

First, Blake was caught at deep cover for 23, and then Will Harby followed soon after as he was beaten in the air by Majid and lost the top of his off stump for 2.

With Surrey gaining momentum and second new ball taken under dimming light, Hamidullah Qadri and James Logan had to start anew, with the score 358/5.

But, two overs after the new ball was taken, play was halted due to bad light. However, it was resumed following a 15-minute break. Upon their return, the batting pair handled the challenge smoothly and crossed 400 in the 94th over as Kent tightened their grip on the game.

At the end of that over, which turned out to be the last of the day due to bad light, Virdi opened his account as he pinned Qadri lbw, who was trying to sweep the off spinner on length, for 21.

While Surrey regained ground in the final session, Kent finished a successful day on 401/6 in 94 overs. Logan (24*) and HM Khan (0*) will resume the host’s innings tomorrow at 11:00 am in Beckenham.