Fast bowler Matt Milnes has spoken of his delight as he helped bowl Kent to victory against Middlesex at Canterbury.

Milnes was instrumental in Kent wrapping up a 49 run win on the final day of an entertaining clash in Division Two of the County Championship.

Having claimed 5 for 31 in the second innings, after taking two crucial wickets in the first innings, Milnes spoke of his delight at having been involved in one of the best wins he’s experienced.

Milnes said: “That’s actually probably one of the better wins I’ve ever experienced in my career. I thought the way the game ebbed and flowed, I thought we were ahead of the game at times, I thought we were behind the game at times, and yeah, it was really good game of cricket, so to come out on top was fantastic.

“When we were batting this morning, me and Dudge (Keith Dudgeon), we felt that we probably need to get a 60-70 run partnership to give us a chance, and I obviously played pretty terribly, so that didn’t help matters.

“When it came to bowling, we knew that the pitch was going up and down a little bit, so there was something to work with. Whilst it wasn’t too much sideways movement, there was a little bit up and down, so I think we just had to keep the stumps in play all day.

“Thankfully, I think all four of us seamers did that, and then Parky (Matt Parkinson) did a fantastic job at bowling up the hill as well.

“They were always going to get a partnership. I think every innings, after 40 odd overs, the ball went soft, and it got that bit easier.

“Not that we bowled poorly, I think it was just the plans we went with. And then after tea, we went back to basics a little bit, and thankfully got a wicket not far after tea, which obviously gave us a bit of momentum to get the last two after that.”

The victory sees Kent sit second in Division Two, 32 points behind league leaders Durham going into the Vitality Blast, Metro One Day Cup and Hundred.

Kent’s next County Championship isn’t until 20th August when they will travel to Merchant Taylors’ School to face Middlesex once again.

Picture supplied by Ian Scammell.