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Patel sparks collapse to deny Essex

Kent (245) beat Essex (225) by 20 runs

An Essex descent from 101 for no wicket, needing 145 more at exactly a run a ball, to 154 for six within 14 overs saw them surrender a better than even chance to escape the foot of Division One.

If Nasser Hussain is indeed on the verge of the England captaincy, he will inherit the crown in quite magnificent touch. After adding 65 to 197 wonderful runs in the preceding championship match, Hussain, third out, swung across the line to fall lbw to Matthew Fleming.

Though Ashley Cowan made valiant attempts later to find 67 from the last six overs, Hussain's was the key dismissal.

It was Min Patel, however, cleverly exploiting modest turn at the River End for a one-day best of three for 44, who induced the collapse, crucially removing Stuart Law without score.

Law's Queensland team-mate, Andrew Symonds, dominated events earlier as Kent, put in, set their target. Arriving at 53 for two in the 11th over after Will House (40 off 37 balls) had been caught behind aiming a head-up straight drive, Symonds hammered his way to 85 from 79. His phenomenal strike rate in the competition this year stands at 120.78 per 100 balls.

The impulse to deride the names which the ECB have decreed all counties must cart around as one-day appendages is, for traditionalists, irresistible. And certain soubriquets, as ``eagles'' failed to soar or ``gladiators'' drop their swords, cry out for sarcasm.

At least Kent, dubbing themselves ``Spitfires'', have found one of the more inspired and historically apt tags, albeit one which marries well with one of their sponsoring brewers' products.

Batsmen enjoy Chelmsford, one of the few grounds which still encourage the fast runs and frequent fours for which one-day games were conceived. The fielding circle goes almost two-thirds of the way to the very short straight boundary and Symonds twice cleared this with ease at long off and long on.

When he went, slicing a drive high to backward point, Kent, then on 189 for five in the 35th, lost their way. Mark Ealham, calling for a single, was run out for 43 and, with Paul Grayson and Mark Ilott keeping impressive control, only 56 were mustered from the last 61 balls. This, in the end, proved just enough.