Ahead of the start of the 2026 Rothesay County Championship this Friday, Kent Men completed their pre-season schedule with a three-day University Match against Oxford UCCE at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.
Kent’s 2026 pre-season schedule was proudly sponsored by Bayliss Executive Travel Ltd.
Ben Compton & Sam Northeast both scored centuries as Kent drew with Oxford UCCE at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.
The three-day University Match took on a unique shape as all of Kent Men’s available First XI players were able to contribute in the field, but only 11 players from each side were permitted to bat.
After choosing to bat first on Day One, Kent got off to a healthy start – openers Ben Compton & Zak Crawley put on 65 for the opening wicket in just 21.1 overs before Crawley was out lbw to Dunlop for 29.
Sam Northeast, who re-joined the county from Glamorgan this Winter, was in at three and he quickly showed his class back in a Kent shirt – putting on a partnership of 152 with Compton, who eventually retired out on 106.
Northeast too retired out after making 101 from 148, his first century back in a Kent shirt since 2017.
Tawanda Muyeye made 77 not out from 120 and Grant Stewart 53 not out from 62 as the Spitfires declared their first innings on 402/4 overnight after Day One.
Another returning player in Matt Milnes, who re-signed for Kent from Yorkshire this off-season, got the Spitfires off to a strong start with the ball on Day Two. Faleel mistimed a drive to find the waiting hands of Joey Evison, who became Kent’s second wicket-taker of the innings when a low delivery removed Waheed lbw for 24.
Keith Dudgeon bowled for the first time since his return to Kent for the whole season and took two wickets for just 12 runs in six overs – bowling Gallman-Findlay for 1 and producing a mistimed hook shot from Cheater into the hands of Matt Quinn.
Milnes, Evison and Mikey Cohen also took two wickets apiece as Oxford UCCE posted 157 in their first innings, still trailing Kent by 245 runs.
Despite Day Three’s sunny start, clouds gathered overhead for the start of play at 11:00am. Kent resumed on 31/2 after second innings openers Jaydn Denly and Joey Evison had departed in the gloom of the backend of Day Two.
Chris Benjamin, who had been keeping wicket in Oxford UCCE’s first innings, made a steady 58 from 100 deliveries before retiring out.
The Spitfires declared for the second time just after the lunch break on the third day, leaving Oxford UCCE 409 to win.
Jas Singh made the first breakthrough in emerging sunshine in the afternoon – sending Faleel’s middle stump cartwheeling in the fourth over.
The two sides shook hands on a draw as the Tea interval arrived.
The 2026 Rothesay County Championship begins on Friday 3 April with Kent Men making the journey to Banks Homes Riverside in Chester-le-Street to face Durham.
Next Home Match
Kent’s first home Rothesay County Championship match of the Summer is against Northamptonshire at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury!
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Club Membership includes entry to ALL scheduled Kent Cricket matches in 2026, and is your ‘season ticket’ to watch Kent in the Rothesay County Championship, and Men’s & Women’s Vitality Blast & Metro Bank One Day Cup action this coming Summer.
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