Kent suffer defeat after a thrilling final innings

CAMERON Green held his nerve to steer Gloucestershire to a hard-earned three-wicket victory over Kent on the final day of a thrilling County Championship Second Division match at the Seat Unique Stadium

- Andrew Stockhausen

Set a modest 162 to win in a minimum 57 overs, the home side made heavy weather of the chase as they were reduced to 57-4 and 138-7, Nathan Gilchrist claiming 4-43 to threaten an unlikely Kent comeback. But Australia international Green performed admirably under pressure to post a crucial match-winning innings of 67 not out from 90 balls, including a six and 6 fours, as the hosts dug in to reach their target with 13.5 overs to spare.

Ben Charlesworth had earlier produced a startling cameo with the ball to set up Gloucestershire's first home win in nearly three years. Regarded as an occasional bowler after being restricted by injury in recent times, the right arm seamer took three wickets in a devastating 14-ball burst as Kent were dismissed for 253 inside 89 overs in their second innings. Chris Benjamin and Grant Stewart appeared to be making a decent fist of saving the game when staging a half century partnership for the fifth wicket, only for the latter to fall to Charlesworth shortly before lunch and spark a collapse in which the visitors lost their last five wickets for 20 runs in 10.5 overs.

This was Gloucestershire's first home win in 16 attempts since beating Warwickshire at Bristol in September 2022 and this first victory of the season was greeted with glee by long-suffering supporters. The home side banked 24 points to climb the table, while Kent took six after suffering a second defeat in as many outings.

Resuming on 135-4, a slender lead of 43, Kent batsmen Benjamin and Jack Leaning extended their defiant partnership to 82 in the face of a probing examination from Gloucestershire's seamers, who bowled well as a unit to build pressure.