Derbyshire fast bowler Ben Aitchison completed a nine-wicket match haul to secure a 181-run victory over Kent on the final day at the OurCoop County Ground.
After a serious back injury sidelined him for nearly two years until May 2025, Aitchison has rebuilt his red-ball career. The 27-year-old dismantled the visitors in just five morning overs. He removed England opener Zak Crawley before dismissing Ben Compton and Sam Northeast in quick succession.
Aitchison Dismantles Kent Top Order
Aitchison finished with five for 44, bringing his match figures to nine for 102. His relentless line and length extended his season tally to a Division Two-leading 57 wickets.
Kent faced an improbable target of 434 after the hosts declared on 352 for eight. Chris Benjamin and Ekansh Singh shared a 91-run stand for the sixth wicket to delay the inevitable. Grant Stewart and Bertie Foreman added further defiance, facing 169 balls together to push the hosts deep into the afternoon session.
Speaking to Kent Cricket, Foreman highlighted the challenging conditions.
“I think it’s a strange pitch at times, there’s periods where it feels like it’s doing a lot and then there are periods where it seems to be flattening out,” Foreman said.
Shoaib Bashir eventually trapped Foreman lbw for 38. With only two overs remaining, Brett Randell dismissed Hasan Mahmud to shatter Kent’s final resistance and condemn them to their second defeat this season.
Derbyshire travel to face Northamptonshire next week, while Kent welcome Lancashire to the St Lawrence Ground for their penultimate fixture.
