da supremo： Peter Bowler’s sound defence frustrated Kent’s victory hopes on the finalday at Taunton as the match with Somerset ended in a tame draw
Richard Latham19-May-2001Peter Bowler’s sound defence frustrated Kent’s victory hopes on the finalday at Taunton as the match with Somerset ended in a tame draw.The 37-year-old veteran hit a typically solid 87 off 188 balls, sharing acrucial fourth-wicket stand of 135 with Mark Lathwell, which occupied 51overs.They came together in the first over of the day when Jamie Cox wasbrilliantly caught behind by the diving Paul Nixon off Matthew Fleming,having added only four to his overnight 59.Somerset were 114-3 and still 45 runs behind. But Lathwell, still looking tore-establish his reputation since a year off with injury in 1999, showedglimpses of the form that brought two Test appearances back in 1993.Applying himself with great determination, he matched Bowler’s solid defencewhile occasionally giving a reminder of his stroke-playing ability in making58 before falling lbw to Fleming.Kent’s skipper struck again in the same over, clean bowling Rob Turner for aduck, on the way to figures of 4-74.But the pitch offered little in the way of assistance to any type of bowlingand Peter Trego, promoted in the order following his 32 in the firstinnings, again showed his talent with the bat.After Bowler had finally departed to Nixon’s seventh catch of the match, theEngland Under-19 bowler went on the attack to hit eight fours in his 43.Somerset were 334-7 when Cox declared to end the match at 5.20pm. The homeside took seven points and Kent ten.