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Ward in good health

Kent (164-1) bt Yorkshire (161-8) by 9 wkts

Trevor ward, woefully out of form this season, rediscovered his touch to score a glorious 70 off 87 balls during an opening partnership of 136 with Rob Key, who was scarcely less dominant.

In the 28 overs that they were together, Ward and Key, unbeaten with 76, took Kent to within 26 runs of their modest target.

Kent's win, their sixth in their last nine matches, does not raise their standing in the table, but it almost assured them of maintaining their first division status next year. Yorkshire's loss was their seventh in consecutive outings.

Yorkshire opted to bat and their fate was good as sealed in the first 14 overs. At that point, they were 35 for four. Craig White had his off stump knocked back by Mark Ealham in the very first over and in the second, Michael Vaughan edged a low catch to Steve Marsh off Julian Thompson.

Ealham and Thompson used the new ball admirably. Ealham, when he took his sweater after seven overs, had taken two for 16. Thompson bowled his full allotment at a stretch with equal economy. Ealham's second victim was Richard Harden who was defeated by late outswing.

The first shoots of a recovery were just beginning to sprout when Anthony McGrath was run out from short third man by a smart piece of fielding by Nigel Llong and the innings would have been wrecked beyond repair had Marsh got his gloves to an edge by David Byas in the 20th over.

Byas, who made 46 off 96 balls, stayed in another 14 overs and was just beginning to capture momentum when he drove low to midon. Gary Fellows and Richard Blakey added 67 runs from the last 11 overs.