Nottinghamshire secured a dominant 10-wicket win over Kent in the Vitality County Championship at Canterbury, ensuring their own survival hopes remain alive while condemning Kent to relegation.
Jacob Duffy played a pivotal role, claiming 4-60, while Robert Lord chipped in with 3-42 as Kent were bowled out for 230 in their second innings. Although Joey Evison’s 42 extended the game just enough to force Nottinghamshire to bat again, the modest target of 23 runs was easily chased down in just 3.3 overs. Ben Slater ended unbeaten on 22, alongside Haseeb Hameed, who remained not out on 6.
This emphatic result officially extinguished Kent’s slim chances of staying in Division One, while Nottinghamshire's survival is now dependent on avoiding defeat in their final fixture next week.
Kent began the third day on 85-0, trailing by 123 runs. Even their most pessimistic supporters, of which there are plenty this season, might not have anticipated the collapse that unfolded. Conditions for batting were favourable, yet Tawanda Muyeye fell for 60 to the sixth ball of the morning, skying a catch to Dane Schadendorf off Duffy.
Ben Compton soon followed, trapped lbw by Lyndon James for 32, before Jack Leaning slashed at a short ball from Duffy and was caught behind without scoring. Robert Lord, replacing James at the Nackington Road end, continued the onslaught by dismissing Joe Denly for 8, caught by Freddie McCann in the slips. Duffy then shattered Daniel Bell-Drummond’s stumps for 21, while Lord grabbed another wicket, sending Harry Finch back for a duck thanks to a stunning one-handed catch by Schadendorf.
Matt Parkinson’s innings of 9 was cut short by Farhan Ahmed, caught at leg slip by McCann, before Akeem Jordan’s boundary inspired a lone fan to sing "We will make you bat again" to the tune of "Bread of Heaven." This optimism was rewarded when Kent brought the scores level, but Jordan soon departed lbw to Ahmed for 32, and Duffy bowled Nathan Gilchrist for a duck shortly after.
Evison’s attempts to delay the inevitable led to a slow passage of play, with Nottinghamshire’s fielders positioned on the boundary whenever he was on strike. However, Lord eventually broke through, dismissing Evison at point.
With just 23 runs needed for victory, Nottinghamshire wasted no time, with Slater finishing the chase in style by pulling Jordan for six. Nottinghamshire secured 23 points from the match, while Kent left with just three.
The result leaves Nottinghamshire poised to stay in the top flight, provided they avoid a loss in their final fixture.