Kent Cricket News -----------------------------
www.kent.cricket.org ---------- Fri 21 Aug 1998

KENT V WORCESTERSHIRE, COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
DAY 3 OF 4, ST.LAWRENCE GROUND, CANTERBURY

Worcestershire 360 all out Kent 344 all out
Worcestershire 2nd innings: 300-6 (lead 316)
(Leatherdale 79, Rhodes 86* Moody 59)

It's difficult to tell quite how a game
which looked firmly in Kent's grasp at 
lunchtime could have drifted so far away 
from them by the close of play.

As the players left the field Worcestershire
had a 316 run lead with 4 second innings
wickets remaining - and a day in which to set
Kent a stiff target on a pitch which is likely
to favour the bowlers as they attempt to bowl
the home side out.

The morning began badly for Kent - they lost
their remaining 3 wickets whilst adding just
21 to their overnight score and falling 6 runs
short of a fourth batting bonus point.

But quick wickets from Headley and Fleming
led to the belief that Kent were in with a 
real chance of victory; the visitors struggling
when the former took two wickets in two balls
to reduce them to 43 for 3; the fourth wicket
of opener Weston, who'd top scored with 23, 
falling shortly after lunch.

Hovever an unexpected 96 run partnership 
between Moody and Leatherdale for the fifth
wicket could yet prove a matchwinner. The
pair stayed together for an hour and a quarter
before Moody was stumped off the bowling of
Patel for 59.

The most depressing part of the day was yet to
come for Kent. Leatherdale, 30 not out when
Steve Rhodes came to the wicket, put on 152
with his partner in a slow but profitable 6
wicket partnership as they occupied the crease
until two overs before the close of play.

Many Kent supporters could not bear to stay
to the end and the final balls were bowled in
front of a small crowd.  Kent have a very limited
bowling attack for this match; Mark Ealham
is out of action due to bruised ribs (which
could keep him out of action until the end of
the season although Kent coach John Wright is
optimisitic he might be able to play in the
final match). There have also been injury
problems for Thompson, who suffered an ankle
injury today.  Alan Wells has great difficulty
running short distances due to an injury 
incurred during a five-a-side football match.

Matthew Fleming made the breakthrough at 6.25
tonight when he bowled Leatherdale for 79, but
at 299 for 6 the damage had already been done
and Worcestershire are in full control.

It looks as though they will bat for a short
time tomorrow morning, possible around an hour,
before declaring and setting Kent a target in
the region of 350 - a feat that will be very
difficult to achieve giving the changing 
conditions of the pitch.

If Kent do win tomorrow they could concievably
achieve a place near the top of the championship.
However as the season ticks away this is looking
increasingly unlikely.

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INFORMATION FOR SPECTATORS (DAY 4 - 22ND AUG)

Play from 11am to 6.00pm (gates open 9am)
Entrance: £8 adults, £4 concs, £10 car-park
96 overs in the day, Lunch 1.00pm Tea 3.40 

Weather Forecast: 
Most places will be dry with sunny spells. 
A scattering of showers is possible in the 
afternoon.  Temperatures will rise to 22C 
Outlook: Dry with rain later. 

Reports on BBC Radio Kent at these times (BST)
1204, 1304, then during the 'Saturday Sport'
programme from 1430 to 1830.
Frequencies: 96.7 and 104.2FM, 774 and 1602 AM

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ALAN IGGLESDEN'S TESTIMONIAL YEAR 1998

Monday 31st August (Bank Holiday Monday)
at Belmont Cricket Ground, Whitstable, Kent

Whitstable CC v Kent XI - starts 2pm
Admission £2 (£1 concessions)

Lunch with the players is also available at
12.30pm for the cost of £10 per person
(3 course meal) applications needed by Sun 23rd

For tickets contact the Testimonial Office
on this number; Maidstone (01622) 663886

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