Dramatic collapse hands Kent advantage

9:09pm Sunday 13th July 2008

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A disappointing day with both bat and ball left Yorkshire needing to produce something special in the field on the final day as Kent took control of their County Championship match at Canterbury.

A second batting collapse in as many innings meant the Tykes could only set the home side 140 to win in a game they had looked in command of for so long.

Leading by 122 runs at the start of day three, Yorkshire were confident of taking the early wickets they needed to turn the pressure on Kent but they never materialised.

Led by captain Rob Key, who hit 157, and Yasir Arafat, who finished unbeaten on 90, the hosts managed to claw themselves back into the game with the bat during an absorbing morning’s play.

When Yorkshire did finally bowl them all out for 467, Kent had built up a lead of 57 runs.

At this stage there appeared little for the White Rose county to worry about, particularly on a pitch which had seen almost 900 runs scored on it in two innings.

But once more they failed to show the composure or calmness needed at the crease as poor shot selection and brilliant fielding took the game away from them.

There was little sign of the dramatic collapse at first, despite Adam Lyth falling for just eight to Arafat. Fellow opener Andrew Gale looked in good form as the Kent bowlers struggled on a hot day.

Gale, who made 36, was joined in the middle by stand-in captain Anthony McGrath and together they put on 60 as Yorkshire looked to have lifted the early pressure.

But when Bradford-born McGrath fell for 25 to Azhar Mahmood, Yorkshire crumbled.

Gale was back in the pavilion soon after, caught behind by Geraint Jones off James Tredwell, as they found themselves on 72 for three with a lead of just 15.

The situation soon deteriorated when Gary Ballance, on his first-class debut, could only make five before trying to play Arafat across the line and being trapped lbw.

There was brief respite for Yorkshire when Jacques Rudolph and Gerard Brophy entered the fray but nobody could go on to get the big score that was so desperately needed.

After Rudolph fell for 47 with the score on 176 for six to give Mahmood his second wicket, Yorkshire’s resolve was broken.

Between them Adil Rashid, Tim Bresnan and Rana Naved could only add 20 as the Kent attack grew in confidence.

The rout was completed soon after when Deon Kruis was brilliantly caught at slip by Justin Kemp to give Arafat his fourth victim of the innings.

The rapid demise left Yorkshire all out for just 196 and, with a lead of only 139, they will have to produce an excellent bowling performance tomorrow to avoid their second four-day defeat in a row.