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Kent crush Essex in LV= County Championship Division 2 clash at Tunbridge Wells

Kent's Sam Billings Picture: Barry Goodwin.
Kent's Sam Billings Picture: Barry Goodwin.

Kent bounced back from last week's LV= County Championship Division 2 six-wicket loss at Surrey in emphatic record-breaking fashion against Essex at Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday.

Ben Harmison (123) and Sam Billings (100 not out) both scored hundreds, with Billings registering his maiden championship one, as Kent won by an innings and 207 runs and with a day to spare.

The massive winning margin was Kent's biggest win against Essex, beating the previous heaviest of an innings and 205 runs at Tonbridge in 1922.

Essex were routed for 166 in their second innings with young pacemen Matt Hunn (4-47) and Calum Haggett (4-43) the destroyers.

Graham Napier top-scored with 35 not out as Essex were dismissed in the 45th over and Kent wrapped up their first home win of the season in the competition, and third overall, in stunning fashion.

The rot set in after Hunn had Nick Browne (1) caught in the gully by Joe Denly with the first ball of the second over.

Hunn struck again by bowling Jaik Mickleburgh (9) before Haggett sent Ravi Bopara (5) on his way after being caught by captain Sam Northeast.

New Zealand international Jesse Ryder was next go, caught by Hunn at mid-on off James Tredwell (1-5) for a quickfire 29.

The collapse continued to gather momentum with Tom Westley (22) caught behind by Billings off Haggett.

Stevens (1-36) then trapped Ryan ten Doeschate (27) leg before and then Hunn struck again, having James Foster (24) caught in the slips by Tredwell.

The end was in sight was well and truly in sight and Hunn and Haggett completed the job by getting rid of David Masters (8), James Porter (1) and Ravi Patel (0) in rapid succession.

Earlier in the day, Kent, after resuming on 420-4 , declared at a massive 633-8, their highest-ever total made at Tunbridge Wells, and indeed on home soil.

Darren Stevens made 76 before Harmison and Billings took centre stage.

The pair added 99 for the sixth wicket with Harmison scoring his first hundred of the season and his first in over a year.

Billings, who made 99 against Surrey last week, reached three figures off 113 balls and hit 10 fours and one six.

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