Seam bowler Keith Dudgeon produced career-best figures to wrap up Kent’s Rothesay County Championship Division 2 victory over Northamptonshire inside 30 minutes on Sunday morning.
The 29-year-old South African, making his debut in English cricket, rattled through the last three Northamptonshire wickets to secure a 145-run success – only Kent’s second red-ball win in their last 20 games – as he finished with second-innings figures of 7-36.
It took Kent only seven overs to complete their win at Wantage Road, as head coach Adam Hollioake started life in charge with a victory, with the home side bowled out for 114 in their second innings as George Bartlett was left unbeaten on 60.
Resuming on 54 not out, Bartlett did his best to farm the strike and take the odd single, but he could not protect the tail for long and Dudgeon struck in his third over of the morning to take his tally of wickets to five.
Dom Leech, attempting to fend off a short delivery, could only send it looping into the gloves of Harry Finch – and Liam Guthrie departed in Dudgeon’s next over, bowled off his pads for a duck.
Dudgeon completed Kent’s victory just two balls later, uprooting Raphy Weatherall’s off-stump with a fizzing yorker.
“It’s a brilliant start to the season,” said captain Daniel Bell-Drummond. “We couldn’t have had a better start, to be honest!
“We had a great pre-season and Division 2 is new to us but we really wanted to get off to a good start. The way the guys played there was exceptional to win the game in two days and a little bit.
“So, I’m very chuffed with the team.”
Kent will play their first home match of the summer at Canterbury’s Spitfire Ground against Middlesex from Friday in County Championship Division 2.
