Tawanda Muyeye hit a brilliant maiden double century for Kent on Saturday to give his side a glimmer of hope of an unlikely victory in their bottom-two Vitality County Championship Division 1 match at Worcestershire.
The 23-year-old dominated proceedings and played the major role in Kent wiping out a first-innings deficit of 276 runs.
Muyeye began the day unbeaten on 80 and again looked a class performer as he surpassed his previous best score of 179 against Northamptonshire last summer.
A single off Joe Leach (0-71) took Muyeye to his double ton and was the cue for an elaborate jig of delight around the square before he was embraced by team-mate Grant Stewart.
He received solid support from Jack Leaning, Joey Evison, Harry Finch and Stewart.
Muyeye’s fine knock ended in the final over of the day when he was caught behind off James Hartshorn for 211 from 279 balls with three sixes and 23 fours.
“Some of the boys have never seen me that happy because I’m usually quite reserved and quite quiet,” said Muyeye.
“It was more to do with what has happened this season. I struggled a lot and I just never saw any light at the end of the tunnel.
“I found some form in the T20s, went to The Hundred, didn’t play that much and, for me to play like that over the last two days, it has made me so happy.
“It was tough at the start of the summer. It was tough for everyone watching, as well, because it didn’t look like me (as a player) at all.
“To come out and be myself, and just take it on straight away, from the first innings, was brilliant and for me, at some stage, I just needed to grow up and be responsible.
“For me, cricket has always been about fun and entertaining people, so I hope that was good enough.
“There is still a lot of work to be done.
“We all have our goals in life and cricket, and this is a starting point and I want to carry on and work as hard as I can.”
But Worcestershire still remain big favourites to secure a second straight win in the Championship, despite Muyeye’s heroics, with Kent just 77 runs ahead with two wickets remaining.
Tom Taylor – 3-85 from 22 overs – was rewarded for some fine bowling with two wickets with the second new ball to tip the balance of the game in the home side’s favour.
But it was also one of those days for Worcestershire, where the half-chances did not quite go to hand or did not stick in contrast to their superb display in the field on day one.
Overnight rain and morning drizzle meant play was unable to get under way until 2pm with 66 overs remaining.
The visitors resumed on 104-2, needing a further 172 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Leaning began proceedings with a trio of boundaries but New Zealander James Hartshorn (2-65) brought about his downfall in the third over of the day.
He was undone by a full and swinging delivery and was plumb lbw for 27.
Muyeye continued his aggressive approach, pulling Hartshorn backward of square for six.
He completed the second first-class century of his career from 109 balls with a single off Leach and it contained two sixes and 13 fours.
Muyeye bowed to his team-mates on reaching his personal milestone and runs continued to flow at a rapid rate.
But the introduction into the attack of Adam Finch (2-71) led to another breakthrough with Evison pushing forward and caught behind low down by Gareth Roderick.
Muyeye had one slice of luck on 135 when he top-edged Hartshorn in between two fielders at backward square leg but, otherwise, continued to bat in impressive fashion.
D’Oliveira (0-17) brought himself into the attack as an all-spin combination alongside Jake Libby (0-4) with Worcestershire’s over rate displayed as minus three on the scoreboard.
New batsman Finch provided staunch support for Muyeye, although he was fortunate when edging Tom Taylor and seeing a head high chance not grasped by first slip.
But Taylor was rewarded when Finch was caught in the crease and lbw after adding 81 runs with Muyeye.
Stewart adopted an aggressive approach when joining Muyeye in the middle in another fruitful partnership of 84 runs in 16 overs.
But Taylor did strike with the second new ball to end a stand of 84 when Stewart was trapped lbw for 41 at 333-6 and then had Matt Parkinson caught behind.
Hartshorn then ended Muyeye’s brilliant innings as the hosts finished a tough day in the field on a positive note.
