Essex 227 (Buttleman 50*, Khushi 50) were defeated by Kent 287 for 8 (Leaning 137*, Compton 65, and Webster 3-38) by 60 runs.
The 17-year-old Jaydn Denly’s remarkable performance helped the Kent Spitfires defeat Essex by 60 runs in the Metro Bank Cup at Canterbury.
Denly, who was playing in the same team as his uncle Joe for the first time, stole the show by claiming a wicket, a run-out, and an outrageous catch in addition to finishing as Kent’s third-highest run scorer with 37. Jack Leaning hit a brilliant 137 from 127 balls, and Ben Compton made 65 as Kent recovered from a middle-order collapse to post 287 for eight.
Both Feroze Khushi and Will Buttleman scored precisely 50 runs for Essex, but the visitors were all out for 227 with 5.1 overs left after losing too many wickets to attempt a convincing run chase.
For the Spitfires, Matt Parkinson, Grant Stewart, and Hamid Qadri each took two wickets.
The first uncle and nephew to play together since the present club’s founding in 1870—and the first since Fuller Pilch and his nephew William made 41 appearances for the “Grand Old Kent XI” between 1838 and 1854—happened on Sunday at the Spitfire Ground.
In front of 2400 spectators, Kent elected to bat, but they wasted a strong start after being 130 for one at the midway point for the third straight game.
Uncle Joe started the game with Daniel Bell-Drummond back in charge of the batting, but he was the first wicket to be removed when he edged Aaron Beard behind for 17.
Leaning and Compton added 98 runs for the second wicket until Leaning was caught behind by Beau Webster in the 25th over, which was relatively quick by his standards.
Beard choked Harry Finch down the leg side for seven runs after Webster bowled Alex Blake for one.
Leaning was joined by Jaydn Denly to help Kent pass 200, but he was bowled for 37 while trying to sweep Webster, and Kent’s chances of passing 300 were dashed when Aron Nijjar struck twice in the 43rd over.
When Grant Stewart played on, he was out after the first delivery, and Hamid Qadri had only hit one run when he chipped the bowler to Webster.
Leaning was in danger of running out of partners when Matt Quinn sent Richards straight to Nijjar at mid-on after four wickets had fallen for five runs in ten balls. Thankfully, Jas Singh came in and assumed the Jack Leach role, saving Leaning. Leaning crossed the threshold of three figures thanks to some deft running between the wickets; he then launched an attack in the final two overs after punching Beard for a single through mid-on.
Beard took three leg-side sixes from Leaning, and Singh finished with two runs left.
Ben Allison’s delivery in the 29th went for 13, and in the 50th, following a game-changing undefeated stand of 69 from 44 legal balls, Leaning struck Beard for three leg-side sixes, and Singh finished on two not out.
When Luc Benkenstein was run out by Jaydn Denly while attempting to score a second for Essex, the score was 33 without a loss.
Quinn then nearly caught Tom Westley behind for a duck, and in the following over, the ninth, Finch was caught behind off Stewart for two runs despite the ball coming loose as he dived to the ground.
When Webster entered the game and resumed applying pressure to the bowlers, Jaydn Denly caught him at far on by Blake, and Webster was out for 26 from 25 balls.
When Khushi, who had just turned 50 and was attempting to strike Matt Parkinson through the cow corner, was removed, the younger Denly produced what was undoubtedly the game’s crowning moment.
Noah Thain was out for 141 after being caught by Stewart at mid-off on Hamid Qadri’s fourth delivery, and Charlie Allison was crucially bowled out for 44.
Parkinson bowled Ben Allison out for seven runs in the 38th over, and Beard bowled Leaning out for two runs in the following over.
With his subsequent delivery, Leaning caught and bowled Jamal Richards. Although Buttleman hit the hat-trick ball for six, Kent was able to secure the victory when Stewart had Nijjar caught by substitute fielder Nathan Gilchrist.
Parkinson bowled Ben Allison out for seven runs in the 38th over, and Beard bowled Leaning out for two runs in the following over.
With his subsequent delivery, Leaning caught and bowled Jamal Richards. Although Buttleman hit the hat-trick ball for six, Kent was able to secure the victory when Stewart had Nijjar caught by substitute fielder Nathan Gilchrist.
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