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Kent fall as Dakin finds one-day form

Leics (121-4) beat Kent (120) by 6 wickets

Kent's first defeat in this competition since early June was principally the result of a devastating spell of fast bowling by Leicestershire's Jon Dakin, who finished with career-best one-day figures of five for 30.

It was a stirring reversal of form for Dakin, who had failed to take a wicket in his previous four games in the CGU League and had only collected six in all one-day matches.

Kent came into the game in the kind of form which has made them contenders for the Division One title. They have won their last four championship matches and four out of five in this competition but a mid-order collapse, with five wickets falling for five runs in 17 balls, brought about their downfall.

After winning the toss it seemed that the run could continue with Robert Key and Trevor Ward in little trouble as they added 46 for the first wicket in 13 overs.

Even though Vince Wells produced a sharp catch at first slip to remove Ward off Alan Mullally and Ed Smith went to second slip in the next over at the other end, Key and Matthew Walker took the score to 82 before Dakin struck in his third over.

Walker was Dakin's first victim, leg before to a ball of low bounce, and Mark Ealham went in the same over to a return catch.

Dakin repeated the dose with two more wickets in an over when he had Matthew Fleming caught behind off a thin edge and uprooted Steve Marsh's off stump, giving him four victims in the space of 17 balls.

Key alone had withstood the assault and reached his half-century in 78 balls, including four boundaries before he was ninth man out to Vince Wells, playing across the line.

Dakin completed a nap hand with the final ball of his last over, an off-cutter that trimmed Min Patel's bails.

The manner of Leicestershire's reply suggested that they might be struggling even to pass Kent's modest total. In Martin McCague's first over, Darren Stevens went to drive but lobbed the easiest of catches to short extra cover.

Ben Smith and Wells experienced few qualms however as they added 74 in 18 overs before the latter drove at McCague and was caught behind.

Darren Maddy was adjudged caught behind off his gloves sweeping Patel but Smith was equal to all that Kent could offer in an eye-catching aggressive half-century off 68 balls, including seven boundaries. He saw Leicestershire to victory with nearly 18 overs to spare.