In
the so-called quarter-finals, holders Nottinghamshire were battered by nine
wickets. Chasing 256, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Heino Kuhn mustered 194 for the
first wicket before Joe Denly thrashed an unbeaten 52 in 28 balls to take Kent
into the semis at Worcester.
There,
Kuhn produced his fourth century in the competition but this time the pursuit
was a much closer affair. Brett D’Oliveira (78) and Ben Cox (122 not out)
helped Worcestershire – lacking Moeen Ali – to a reasonable total of 306-6 but
the South African’s 127 took Kent to within a whisker of victory. Four were still
needed with just three balls remaining, but Podmore immediately found the boundary
to snatch victory.
At
Chelmsford, Jamie Porter’s 3-25 helped restrict Yorkshire to 259-7 but when
Steven Patterson eventually entered the bowling fray Yorkshire took charge and
ran out winners by 25 runs. A few days later, they travelled to Southampton and
found life considerably tougher. Hampshire’s James Vince showed his class with a
series of silky strokes en route for 171 in 126 balls and Liam Dawson’s spin
claimed four wickets as the White Roses slipped to 241 all out, 107 adrift.
So
the final on 30th June will see
an all-South Coast battle between Kent and Hampshire, Kuhn versus Vince
I’m not sure if another Proteas stalwart, Dale Steyn, will still be around to
make an impact, or if New Zealander Matt Henry, a revelation in the four-day
game, will be as effective in the white-ball contest.
Nevertheless,
whoever wins will bring some welcome silverware to the far south of England.
Hampshire could yet face another relegation fight in the Championship, while
Kent are currently in the hunt for promotion, but the RL Cup will surely boost
their confidence for the season’s second half.
Team of the
Week:
Bell-Drummond
(Ken), Kuhn (Ken), Vince (Ham), Ballance (Yor), D’Oliveira (Wor), Mullaney
(Not), Cox (Wor +), Dawson (Ham), Patterson (Yor), Podmore (Ken), Porter (Ess)
