CANTERBURY, England, CMC – Shiv Chanderpaul’s Lancashire pulled off a resounding victory over Kent yesterday to keep alive their hopes of winning the English County Championship Division One title.
Playing on the final day at St Lawrence Ground, Lancs snatched a 121-run victory after the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 120 runs.
Chasing 338 for victory after Chanderpaul stroked a masterful 120 on Friday to set up Lancs, Kent were undermined by left-arm spinner Gary Keedy (4-53) and seamers Glen Chapple (3-39) and Tom Smith (3-44).
Starting the day on 84 for two, Martin van Jaarsveld (30) and Sam Northeast (18) pushed the score up to 97 before a sudden collapse saw five wickets tumble for 21 runs to reduce Kent to 118 for seven.
Matt Coles smashed 51 from 43 balls in a 72-run eighth wicket stand with James Tredwell (36) before Keedy claimed the last three wickets.
Lancashire are fourth on 145 points, 31 points adrift of leaders Nottinghamshire but still with an outside chance of winning the title.
The left-handed Chanderpaul has cracked two centuries in four Championship matches for Lancashire so far this season.