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Cricket

Kent overcome Somerset to reach Friends Provident semi-final

05/06/2008

Kent will face Durham in the semi-finals of the Friends Provident trophy after they beat Somerset by 37 runs in the quarter-finals today.

The match had to be played at Beckenham because of a wet outfield at Kent's ground Canterbury. But Kent didn't let a change of venue and the lack of home advantage affect them as they racked up a competitive total of 259.

Youngster Neil Dexter cracked an unbeaten 101 to hold the Kent innings together. Opener Joe Denly (36) and captain Rob Key hit a stylish 73 to give the Kent bowlers a good target to defend.

Yasir Arafat got Kent off to the perfect start as he had had the dangerous Marcus Trescothick caught by James Tredwell for only 5.

Craig Kieswetter (90) and Justin Langer (36) got Somerset back on track and they looked to heading for a comfortable win as they reached 127/3 at the half way point of their innings.

But a cluster of quick wickets swung the game back in favour of Kent. James Hildreth, Zander de Bruyn, and the big-hitting Ian Blackwell all went without making notable contributions.

Somerset's last real hope of winning the match went when Kieswetter was the sixth wicket to fall with the score on 182. The opener edged-behind to Denly from the bowling of Darren Stevens.

Kent eventually bowled Somerset out for 222 – with almost five overs of the innings still remaining.

Essex will play host to Yorkshire in the other semi-final with the matches taking place on July 4th and 5th.