Kent closed out Joe Denly’s final professional appearance with a nervy but thrilling two-wicket win over Somerset in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.
How the match unfolded
Somerset posted a challenging total of 313 for 9, with opener Lewis Goldsworthy top-scoring on 87. Savin Perera contributed 75 and Joshua Thomas 60. Kent’s seam bowler Matt Milnes led the attack with figures of 3-53, and Denly took 2-42 from six overs.
In reply, Kent were propelled by skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond, who made exactly 100 to lay the platform. The chase looked in doubt when Kent were 230 for 6, but a late surge—chiefly an electrifying cameo from Ekansh Singh (40 off 20) and an unbeaten 35 from Grant Stewart—saw Kent home with eight balls to spare.
Context and crowd
The match formed part of Kent Cricket’s fourth annual Community Day, held in partnership with the Kent Cricket Foundation. The club reported a significant rise in ticket sales after it became known that Denly would retire following the fixture; more than 3,000 spectators attended at the St Lawrence Ground.
| Team | Score | Notable performers |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 313-9 | Goldsworthy 87; Perera 75; Thomas 60 |
| Kent | chased to victory | Bell-Drummond 100; Singh 40 (20); Stewart 35*; Milnes 3-53 |
- Denly finished his professional career with a bowl and a bat: two wickets and 20 runs in the chase.
- Bell-Drummond’s century provided the backbone of Kent’s response to a big Somerset total.
- Late-order hitting from Ekansh Singh and Grant Stewart proved decisive in closing the gap under pressure.
The home side elected to bowl after winning the toss. Somerset made early inroads but also compiled several strong partnerships, including a stand of 94 between Goldsworthy and Thomas that lifted them past 300. Kent chipped away at the total to keep the target within reach, then relied on experienced heads and aggressive lower-order batting to complete the chase.
From a competition perspective, the result leaves Kent with two wins and two defeats in Group A after four fixtures. The win also provided a fitting local farewell to Denly, whose long association with the county drew a large, vocal crowd for his final Canterbury appearance.
Practical notes for fans: under-14 tickets for the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Beckenham in August were being offered at a reduced price and early ticket purchases were encouraged to save on gate prices. Entry for this Canterbury fixture was included with 2026 Kent Memberships, White Ball Passes and Youth/Junior season tickets.
This match combined sporting drama with a community occasion at St Lawrence Ground, delivering a memorable end to a notable county career.
