Prest hits century as Hampshire pile pressure on Kent

Prest hits century as Hampshire pile pressure on Kent
News Desk

By News Desk


Published: 11/09/2024

Vitality County Championship Division One, Canterbury
(day two)

Hampshire 403: Prest 102, Vince 88,
Wheal 61; Garrett 3-76, Parkinson 3-114

Kent 64-5: Compton 24no; Abbott 3-23

Hampshire 5pts, Kent 3pts

Match scorecard

Kent's Division One status was dangling by a thread after
a dismal second day against Hampshire in the County Championship at Canterbury.

The hosts slumped to 64 for five for in reply to Hampshire's
first innings total of 403, Kyle Abbott claiming three wickets for 23 runs for
the visitors.

What had looked like an even contest at the end of day one
tilted drastically in Hampshire's favour during the morning session.

Tom Prest hit a majestic 102 and Brad Wheal chipped in with
his highest first-class score of 61 before Hampshire were finally dismissed.

Kent could be relegated this week if they lose and results
elsewhere go against them and they still trailed by 339 at stumps.

The visitors began day two on 213-7 and looked comfortable
for the first hour until Joey Evison removed Abbott for 26, thanks to a
brilliant slip catch by Jack Leaning.

Prest, who took 21 from one Matt Parkinson over, reached his
100 from exactly 100 balls but fell to a juggling catch from Jas Singh on the
deep mid-wicket boundary.

Even the last-wicket pair put on 71 as Wheal twisted the
knife with an aggressive cameo that included a pulled six off Singh and it was
377-9 when rain ushered in the lunch break.

After it, Wheal took Hampshire past 400 before he was bowled
playing on.

Kent's response was all too predictable as Muhammad Abbas,
removed Tawanda Muyeye, who was perhaps unfortunate to be given caught behind
for five.

Abbott then took three wickets in five balls - Daniel
Bell-Drummond was caught by Fletcha Middleton, a ball after he had been dropped
by Prest, before Jack Leaning and Joe Denly followed for second-ball ducks.

Evison made 21 before Wheal had him caught behind but the
hosts were spared further punishment when play was suspended due to a
combination of bad light and increasingly heavy rain.

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