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Kent Spitfires' five-match unbeaten run in NatWest T20 Blast South Group ends after one-run loss to Glamorgan

Joe Denly smashed 70 off just 33 balls against Glamorgan Picture: Barry Goodwin
Joe Denly smashed 70 off just 33 balls against Glamorgan Picture: Barry Goodwin

Opener Joe Denly blazed a stunning 70 but it wasn't enough after Glamorgan held their nerve to win the NatWest T20 Blast South Group match by one-run at Tunbridge Wells on Friday.

Spitfires finished on 178-8 in pursuit of 179-7 after Callum Haggett (11) was run-out on the last ball of the run-chase.

The narrow defeat also ended Kent's hopes of winning a sixth consecutive game in the competition, but they remain top with just the game against Essex at Chelmsford next Friday to go ahead of the quarter-finals.

The Kent reply had started so well with Denly scoring a season's best in the competition off just 33 balls, including two sixes and nine fours.

Denly and opening partner Daniel Bell-Drummond (19) gave Kent the perfect launch pad, smashing 59 in just 32 balls.

Captain Sam Northeast and Denly continued the assault, adding 47 in just over five overs before David Lloyd broke the partnership after getting rid of Denly courtesy of a Michael Hogan catch.

Sam Billings came and went for eight after veteran spinner Dean Cosker had him caught by Andrew Salter.

Then it was Northeast on his way for 38 with the score on 139 after all-rounder Graham Wagg had him caught behind.

Disaster struck in the 18th over when Fabian Cowdrey (1) and Alex Blake (0) departed in the space of three balls to leave Kent 158-6,

The final over saw Kent needing 15 and it was nine off three balls when all-rounder Darren Stevens gave the home fans hope with a massive six.

But he perished next ball leaving Haggett to get three to win and two to tie - he was run out going for the second.

Earlier, Glamorgan won the toss and chose to bat but it wasn't long before the Kent fans in the sell-out crowd had something to cheer about.

Mitch Claydon (1-30) had opener Colin Ingram caught by Northeast for four with the final ball of the second over with the score on 10.

The other opener, captain Jacques Rudolph and Ben Wright took the score to 56 before T20 debutant Matt Hunn caught Rudolph (37) off Tredwell (1-21).

Hunn, who took 5-99 in the Ashes tour opener against Australia last month, also played a role in the next wicket to fall, bowling Wright for 20 to claim his first scalp in this format with the score on 78.

Ten runs later, Craig Meschede (5) was on his way back to the pavilion after Cowdrey (1-11) had him caught by Claydon.

Hunn bowled Wallace (3) to leave the visitors 94-5 and the young quick made it 117-6 after sending Cooke (37) on his way thanks to a Bell-Drummond catch.

He finished with impressive figures of 3-30 off four overs.

But Wagg ended any hopes of Kent cleaning up the tail with brutal innings of 53 off 28 balls including five sixes and two fours.

Haggett (1-50) bore the brunt of it, including four sixes, during his three overs.

Kent: Bell-Drummond, Denly, Northeast, Billings, Cowdrey, Stevens, Blake, Haggett, Tredwell, Claydon, Hunn.

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