Kleinveldt leads way to dent Kent hopes

Northamptonshire 31 for 0 trail Kent 230 (Dickson 63, Coles 52, Gidman 51, Kleinveldt 3-70) by 199 runsScorecard

Northamptonshire are easily branded a team of white-ball specialists. Yet for all their excellence in the limited overs games – T20 champions twice in four seasons, and denied a Royal London Cup semi-final berth only by the majesty of Kumar Sangakkara – the club feel that they have not given the best of themselves in the County Championship.

Chances of a tilt at promotion went in the dying embers of spring, never mind the onset of autumn. But an evisceration of Glamorgan last week hinted at Northants’ potential over four days, especially when the end of their white-ball season means that David Ripley does not have to preserve his side’s vitality for limited-overs.

The return of the schools in September feels like no time for outground cricket. For Northants, this sepulchral day allowed their seamers to embrace the role of wreckers, intent on ending Kent’s hopes of promotion back to Division One.

Jokes about Rory Kleinveldt’s girth are trotted out often, yet Kent would have felt in no mood for them after his skilful swing with the second new ball prevented a score more substantial than 230. Ben Sanderson was relentlessly accurate, and Steven Crook in unyielding mood too.

Yet it was Azharullah who left the greatest mark on Kent. First, Sam Northeast, the totem of his side’s batting all …

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