Matt Parkinson spinning and winning as Lancashire crush Kent in Canterbury to top their group

Lancashire moved top of Group Three after thrashing Kent by an innings and five runs in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at Canterbury.
Lancashire's Matt Parkinson stretched himself in Kent, working hard in the field and putting in an epic bowling stintLancashire's Matt Parkinson stretched himself in Kent, working hard in the field and putting in an epic bowling stint
Lancashire's Matt Parkinson stretched himself in Kent, working hard in the field and putting in an epic bowling stint

Lancashire moved top of Group Three after thrashing Kent by an innings and five runs in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at Canterbury.

Matt Parkinson helped spin the visitors to 22 points, claiming seven for 126 as Kent were all out for 351 in their second innings.

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Danny Lamb, who had scored 125 on day two, claimed two for 57.

Daniel Bell-Drummond made 114 for the hosts but they lost three wickets in the morning session and collapsed from 305 for four after lunch, leaving them bottom of the table, having picked up just two bonus points.

With the St Lawrence under cloud for the first time this season and the ground buffeted by a north-easterly wind strong enough to blow over advertising hoardings, Kent began day four on 209 for one following on, still 147 in arrears.

Bell-Drummond added just six to his overnight score when he played on to Josh Bohannon and Parkinson then hit Kent with a gut punch, taking two wickets from successive balls.

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Zak Crawley was lbw for 36 to a full toss that landed on his toe and Jack Leaning was caught and bowled for a golden duck.

Joe Denly and Heino Kuhn steered Kent to 280 for four at lunch, but just as the hosts began to harbour plausible hopes of at least forcing Lancashire to bat again, both were removed by Lamb.

Kuhn was lbw for 32 in the 53rd over and in the 55th Denly’s middle stump was sent flying as he was bowled for 31.

Darren Stevens went for a duck in the next over, caught by Rob Jones as he tried to drive Parkinson through extra cover and Matt Milnes was unable to recreate last week’s rearguard against Yorkshire, lasting 27 balls before he was lbw to Parkinson for 14, leaving Kent on 345 for eight at tea.

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Fred Klaassen was on three when he steered a Lamb delivery into his stumps, and although he was reprieved when the ball failed to dislodge the bails, Parkinson had him caught by Steven Croft at silly point before he could add to his score.

Lancashire sealed the win when Parkinson drew an inside edge from Miguel Cummins and he was caught by Keaton Jennings at short leg.

Parkinson said: “It was probably the best four-day win I’ve had. We fielded for 130 overs and there were times when we did doubt that we would win, but I think that’s part of the attitude of the team now that on any surface, with any score, we’d back our bowlers.”

The spinner bowled 50 of those overs himself and added: “It was a long stint and to bowl 50 was awesome.

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“I think I bowled two full sessions, so for Dane (Vilas, captain) to trust me for that length of time and for me to perform in those overs was amazing, so I’m just pleased to get the win.

“It was nice to get two wickets in the first innings, I think that probably calmed me down a bit.

“I was a bit nervous about going from Old Trafford, which I’m used to, to a very flat surface but I relaxed into a long spell.”