Havoc wreaked by Wren
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reports from Canterbury
Kent 280-6; Somerset 161
Kent win by 119 runs
Somerset were overwhelmed by Kent as a result of a remarkable spell by Tim Wren who, bowling left-arm over, took 5 for 9 in 17 balls at the start of their innings after Trevor Ward's third hundred of the season had assured Kent of a handsome total.
Wren, who is 24, has been with Kent since 1989 but has only played in a handful of matches and he was taking part in his first Benson and Hedges Cup game. Well though he bowled from the Nackington Road End at medium fast, even he would be hard pressed to explain his success.
He did not swing the ball much and it was perhaps his relatively gentle pace - there is almost a loop in his flight - which seemed to confound the batsmen. The first two, Marcus Trescothick and Peter Bowler, both went for wide half-volleys without too much footwork and were caught in the slips.
The next, Richard Harden, pushed forward to another which was wide of the off-stump and was caught behind; Andy Hayhurst tried to work him through the leg side and was bowled round his legs; the fifth, Mark Lathwell, also aimed to play him to leg and was lbw to one which held its line on pitching. Wren picked up Harvey Trump's wicket later and finished with 6 for 41 and the gold award.
Ward showed that he is becoming an increasingly dominant player and he exhibited his usual wide range of strokes. His driving was a joy and he followed one lovely on-drive off Andy Caddick with an exciting hook.
He has a good square cut too, and the only discernible blemish came when he was deceived in the air by Mushtaq Ahmed at 99 and should have been stumped. He hit 15 fours and one six - a straight drive to reach his 50.
The innings faltered slightly when Kent passed 200 but they were then taken to prosperity by a gem of an innings from Matthew Fleming. In 24 balls he made 44 not out with seven bruising fours and he illustrated yet again what great value he is for Kent in all types of the game.
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