Dexter experiment pays dividends

Yasir Arafat took 3-23 to end Somerset's hopes of chasing down Kent's 259

A superb unbeaten century by Neil Dexter powered Kent Spitfires to a match-winning total in the remaining Friends Provident Trophy quarter-final.

Dexter’s 101 not out was the principal reason for Kent reaching 259 for five after choosing to bat first, which proved to be enough to inflict a 37-run defeat on Somerset Sabres at Beckenham.

The 23-year-old was only included in the Kent side after Martin van Jaarsveld made himself unavailable for family reasons, and he repaid the selectors' faith.

The Spitfires’ victory sets up a semi-final with current Trophy holders Durham Dynamos at Chester-le-Street on Friday July 4.

The home side received an early boost in Somerset’s reply when Marcus Trescothick, on five, flashed at Yasir Arafat and was caught at second slip.

A solid second-wicket stand of 80 in 18 overs between Craig Kieswetter and Justin Langer (36) took the total to 93 before Kent removed the Australian as he attempted to steer a ball to third man off James Tredwell and was caught behind.

At that stage Kieswetter was 44, which included a straight six hit in the first over off Simon Cook, who later conceded another six to Langer.

Upon reaching his fifty, from 75 balls, Kieswetter lifted off-spinner Tredwell for a straight six, and two balls later drove him to the extra-cover boundary.

Another massive six at long-off, off Tredwell, took him to 75, but 10 runs later he lost his partner as a brilliant direct-hit throw from Darren Stevens at deep gully ran out Ian Blackwell (18) to peg the Sabres back to 166 for four.

Kieswetter's excellent innings ended with a catch at deep wide mid-wicket off Stevens. He hit 90 from 119 balls with six fours and three sixes.

There was not much further resistance as the Spitfires claimed the last four wickets for just 18 runs, with the last two falling off successive balls on the total of 222, with 25 balls to spare.

Kent captain Rob Key provided vital support for Neil Dexter with 73 on hometown ground

Arafat was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-23.

Earlier, Kent skipper Rob Key and Joe Denly had given the Spitfires a fine start, putting on 68 after deciding to make first use of a grassless pitch.

While Key began steadily, his partner attempted to play forceful strokes early in his innings.

The second bowling change brought the breakthrough for the Sabres, with Denly, on 36 from 57 balls, bowled by Alfonso Thomas by a ball that kept low and came in sharply.

Thereafter, Key and Dexter combined in a hard-hitting stand of 104 in 20 overs, with Dexter playing the more aggressive role.

He should have been held on the wide mid-wicket boundary off Blackwell, but Steffan Jones misjudged the catch, and the ball went for four.

He celebrated that missed chance with a straight drive for four at the next ball, and later lifted Blackwell for a straight six.

He was severe on Jones as well, whom he hit for six to mid-on, and drove the next ball for four to point. His half-century came from 66 balls in the 35th over from another boundary, at third man.

Meanwhile, Key had brought up his half-century from 63 balls shortly after he had driven a four to mid-wicket off Thomas.

His innings ended when former Kent seamer Ben Phillips was brought back for a second spell.

Key promptly hit him for six, which took him to 73 from 87 balls with five fours and a six, only to nick the next ball into Kieswetter’s gloves at 172 for two.

Dexter continued unabated, reaching a well-paced 101 from 113 balls, but wickets at the other end meant Kent had to bowl well in reply, which they did.