Although it has been a very disappointing cricket season for Kent, the development of young players has given them hope for the future.

Their final Rothesay County Championship match of the season demonstrated some of their difficulties. Day 1 at Canterbury finished with Derbyshire on 389 for 2. On day 2, the visitors had reached 473 for 2 after the 110 overs bonus point cut off, possibly the first time ever that Kent have failed to get any bowling points from a full quota of overs. Luis Reece was eventually dismissed for 211, becoming the latest player this season to record a career best with Kent the opposition.

Having faced 145 overs, the visitors declared on 698 for 6 and it was Kent’s turn to bat. Hopes of getting through to the close without losing a wicket were scuppered when one of the few players that can be happy with his campaign, Ben Compton, was dismissed for 46 and the night watchman, Mikey Cohen, fell off the last ball of the day.

That left day 3 as a a battle but a great opportunity for the Kent young guns, three of whom have represented England Under 19s this summer, to showcase their talents. Ben Dawkins, who represents Tunbridge Wells in club cricket, was one of them and had already completed his second first class half century having finished the previous day on 53 not out.

Sadly, another England U19 player, Whitstable’s Jaydn Denly, didn’t last long and was dismissed without scoring. That brought in the third youth England international, Ekansh Singh, who moved from Dartford CC to Bexley CC before the start of the 2025 season.

Having beaten his previous first class career best by one run, eighteen year old Dawkins departed for 61 to be replaced by Oliver Curtiss. The St. Lawrence & Highfield Court all rounder, who turned nineteen earlier in the week, didn’t get out to the middle in his previous first class match so would have been relieved to get off the mark for his first run. 

While Curtiss was batting against Zak Chappell, captain Will Masden employed the unusual field of a silly mid-off, three silly mid-ons, and a short leg however, his innings ended for 14 at the other end when he creamed a pull shot straight into the midriff of Martin Andersson at mid-wicket who did well to hang on.

Joey Evison was next man in with the light becoming more gloomy. The umpires advised Masden that the game was only able to continue if Derbyshire deployed spin from each end. As Jack Morley had already taken four of the five wickets to have fallen, that was not a great hardship for them and Harry Came took over at the Nackington Road end. Just before lunch, Singh completed his half century and Kent went in at 217 for 5.

In the first over of the afternoon, Singh surpassed his first class career best which, like Dawkins, was 60 coming into the game. He went on to score 71 before belting it back at the bowler and falling to a stunning caught and bowled at the second attempt for Morley’s fifth wicket.

Joey Evison was next out for 33 shortly after Kent had earned a batting bonus point before the new ball had been taken. Harry Finch was first to succumb to the bright cherry, out for 16, and the remaining nineteen year old, Corey Flintoff, followed three balls later in his first ever first class innings. Matt Parkinson also went for a duck leaving Grant Stewart unbeaten on one as Kent were humbled out for 271. 

Unsurprisingly, Derbyshire chose to enforce the follow on and Dawkins had his off stump uprooted from just the second ball of the innings. Denly avoided bagging a pair with a boundary through the covers but didn’t add to it and was out caught behind. Singh then went, also caught by wicketkeeper Ben Guest, having scored just four as Kent slumped to 20 for 3, with all three wickets falling to Reece. Compton and Evison then steadied the ship and the hosts went in for tea at 61 for 3.

Bad light meant that Derbyshire again had to turn to spin soon after the players came out for the last session of the day and Kent bedded in. The light then improved and the quick bowlers returned.

Fewer than eighteen overs remained in the day when the visitors ended the ninety run partnership when Evison perished to Reece having scored 53. Curtiss then came out for his second knock but only made four.

Finch then walked out to the middle for his second knock of the day and supported Compton who completed yet another half century before the day ended eight overs early due to bad light with Kent on 136 for 5. Compton finished on 55 not out and Finch was undefeated with eight.

Still 291 runs behind, it will take a Herculean feat by Kent to avoid defeat during the final day.