Cricket: Kent granted second chance

In the Benson and Hedges Cup semi-finals, Kent will meet Northamptonshire at Canterbury on 10 June, a repeat of last season's quarter-final when Nor- thamptonshire made home advantage pay and won by 23 runs.

Northamptonshire went on to lose in the final to Lancashire, but Kent will be hoping to turn the tables and then go one better themselves after their exciting victory over Warwickshire in the last eight.

The all-rounder Matthew Fleming said: "It is nice to have the chance of revenge after last year, when we felt one or two things didn't go our way. People will probably make us favourites but that doesn't bother us. We were already feeling pretty confident as a team before what happened against Warwickshire, when we put up a tremendous effort."

Surrey will be the favourites to beat the county champions Leicestershire in the other semi-final at The Oval, but the Leicestershire opening bowler David Millns, man of the match in the quarter-final win over Somerset, said: "We like to keep proving people wrong and keep knocking out the big sides. It gives us a real buzz to take on sides like Lancashire and Warwickshire and turn them over."

BENSON AND HEDGES CUP Semi-final draw: Kent v Northamptonshire; Surrey v Leicestershire (Matches to be played 10 June).