Cricket: Hooper mixes it to deny Munton

Warwickshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .305 and 9-0

Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177

THE cricket had been about as lifeless as the appearance of the wicket and at a shade above two runs an over, chilled paying customers were crying out for entertainment. On opposing fronts, though, Carl Hooper and Tim Munton helped to make things considerably more bearable with a bat and ball assault of the highest calibre.

There was a match within a match going on here, Kent in danger of following-on as Warwickshire initially whittled away and then went for the jugular on the back of their 6ft 5in seamer. Soon after 5 o'clock and the situation was as tense as one could wish for in the middle of a four-dayer. Kent's blushes were eventually spared by their last wicket pair.

Having polished off the last three Warwickshire wickets before lunch, Kent managed to get themselves dreadfully bogged down. Quite suddenly, a total in excess of 300 began to look like real riches - and that was only early in the innings.

Hooper, however, began to repair the damage made by Gladstone Small and Reeve, who had reduced Kent to 38 for 2. Having arrived at the St Lawrence Ground from the West Indies with unbeaten scores of 178 and 29 behind him, Hooper soon adapted remarkably well to English conditions as Neil Smith would vouch for.

The Warwickshire off-spinner had just sent down a couple of maidens when Hooper launched into an attack that brought him 19 from five deliveries. Included in his repertoire was a straight six, a four through the covers and another six over midwicket. Smith was immediately withdrawn, his last five overs having been dispatched for 43.

Hooper mixed aggression with caution - as well he might, because Munton was now getting into his considerable stride. He removed Graham Cowdrey, who was suffering from shingles, and had Matthew Fleming leg before for 21 just when he was threatening to cut loose.

Fleming had helped add 32 for the fifth wicket and it was now down to Hooper to guide Kent to within sight of their target. He brought up his 50 in typical fashion, smashing the debutant slow left-armer Ashley Giles for a six to the extra cover boundary.

Munton, though, was still in business and commanding respect, sending back Steve Marsh, Dean Headley and Richard Davis either side of the tea interval. He eventually had Hooper, too, for a valiant 75 in a 17- over spell in which he took 7 for 35.

It was a relieved Kent, then, who saw Martin McCague hit a leg-side boundary to take them past the necessary 156 and to eventually finish 128 in arrears.