Lancashire 145 (Henry 5-45, Saini 3-63) and 436 for 9 dec (Bohannon 134, Wells 98, Jones 65*, Henry 4-82) beat Kent 270 (Leaning 90, Stewart 64, Denly 59, Bailey 6-64) and 127 (Bell-Drummond 69*, Bailey 5-46) by 184 runs
Lancashire completed an extraordinary comeback 20 minutes after tea on the final day at Emirates Old Trafford as Kent were bowled out for just 127 to hand the hosts a remarkable 184-run victory.
The question on everyone lips as the morning session begun was how long Lancashire would bat for and did they have a target in mind? George Lavelle promptly gave a hint when he came out swinging scoring a quick-fire 30 from 30 balls before gloving one from Nathan Gilchrist to Ollie Robinson.
With Lancashire declaring on 436 for 9, Kent were left requiring a target of 312 runs to win from a minimum of 82 overs and must have wondered how on earth they had got themselves in that position after the first day’s play.
But if that was bad there was worse to come. After scoring a duck in the first innings, Zak Crawley’s Mancunian misery continued when he tried to leave a rising delivery from Bailey only to nick one through to Lavelle for four and leave Kent 6 for 1.
Less than 10 minutes later it was 6 for 2 as Ben Compton edged a brilliant delivery from Williams to Lavelle for two before the same bowler trapped Joe Denly in front for 0.
It took until after lunch for stand-in skipper Steven Croft to turn to spin but it proved a wide decision with Sundar immediately getting turn and bounce on the day four pitch.
It was this combination that would do for Kent’s own temporary skipper Jack Leaning when he was adjudged to have feathered a Sundar delivery to Lavelle despite the batter’s angry and protracted insistence he was nowhere near the ball.
If there was any doubt about Leaning’s dismissal for 15, there was no decision needed for Jack Cox who fell to a brilliant turning delivery from Sundar that bowled the batter through the gate for one to leave Kent 74 for 5.
Robinson joined Bell-Drummond, who finish unbeaten on 69, at the crease and must have wondered what he had got himself into when he made the trip north to replace the covid-stricken Sam Billings.
But to his credit, Robinson showed some determination as 41 was added for the sixth wicket before he was lbw to Bailey for 21.
And that was pretty much it as far as Kent were concerned. Stewart edged Bailey to Lavelle without scoring to leave Lancashire needing three wickets after tea.
They didn’t have long to wait. Henry was stumped charging Sundar for three before Bailey bowled both Gilchrist and Navdeep Saini for 0 and suddenly Kent had lost three wickets for one run in around 20 minutes and with it the game as Lancashire were left relishing their second successive victory from having a deficit of over 100 runs after the first innings.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo