Nash scores maiden county C/ships century

LONDON, England,  CMC – On the same day West Indies announced their squad for the Test tour of England, discarded former vice-captain Brendan Nash stroked his maiden County Championship century to put Kent in control against Yorkshire yesterday.

Brendan Nash

Playing on the second day at St Lawrence Ground, the left-hander unfurled an attractive, unbeaten 114 as Kent finished on 316 for six in response to Yorkshire’s first innings off 247. Nash, named vice-captain for the tour of Sri Lanka in late 2010, was surprisingly dropped after five single digit scores in six Test innings against Pakistan and India last year.

The 34-year-old had previously scored a century and two half-centuries in his previous six innings. Overall, he averages 33 from 21 Tests.

He slammed an unbeaten double century for five-time champions Jamaica during the regional first class season this year before linking up with Kent, coached by fellow Jamaican and former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams.

Yesterday, Nash was in superb form stroking 14 boundaries, in an innings that lasted a shade over four hours and consumed 186 balls.

Starting the day on four without loss, Kent were cruising at 101 for one before losing quick wickets to slump to 158 for five.

However, Nash combined in a 77-run, sixth wicket stand with former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (47) to pull Kent around.

He brought up tenth first class hundred by cutting former England left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom for four.

At the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Thursday, former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan extended his good form with 46 as his Leicestershire finished the opening day on 159 for six.

The right-hander, who stroked a century last week, faced 86 balls in just under two hours at the crease and counted six fours.

Leicestershire were bowled out yesterday for 234 with Hampshire finishing the day 181 for four in reply.

Sarwan is leading Leicestershire for the second straight game in the absence of the injured Matthew Hoggard.