Kent Spitfires continued their preparations for the 2025 Metro Bank One Day Cup by facing current NCCA One Day Champions Norfolk at Sprowston Cricket Club, part of the Norfolk Cricket Festival.
The Metro Bank One Day Cup is back 
Harry Finch hit a blistering century and Mikey Cohen marked his first first-team appearance with four wickets as Kent Spitfires defeated Norfolk by 42 runs (DLS) at a damp Sprowston Cricket Club.
Explosive Finch shone with the bat whilst captaining the side, whilst Cohen struck three times in his opening spell in his long-awaited return from long-term injury.
Two of Kent’s England U19s batters Ben Dawkins and Jaydn Denly headed out to open the batting for the Spitfires but it was Andy Hanby who got the hosts off to the perfect start, finding Denly’s outside edge first ball with Charlie Hood making no mistake behind the stumps. The pressure continued as the other Kent opener Dawkins was caught in two minds whether to leave the ball, which ended in him edging behind to Hood for 5.
Joey Evison made 25 and Ben Compton 19, but with the latter departing on the first ball of the sixteenth over, the hosts were well on top in the early stages. Kent 64/4 from 16.
Jack Leaning joined Harry Finch and both looked to continue their fine white-ball form in which they finished the Vitality Blast South Group stage. The former made 18 before departing shortly before the halfway stage of the innings for 18, bowled by Cam Graveling. Kent were 102/5 at the halfway stage.
After drinks, the Kent pair of Ekansh Singh and Harry Finch faced former teammate Hamid Qadri bowling a spell of eight unbroken overs against his old side.
Harry Finch then made his 50 in 79 balls with Kent crossing 150 and the partnership crossing 50 of its own in the same over.
An extensive rain delay shortly afterwards brought an early lunch and reduced the Kent innings to 44 overs. Meaning only four overs remained after the delay.
Qadri had Ekansh Singh out at deep point, reverse sweeping before Harry Finch made the most of the short remaining time, smashing 58 in 16 balls after the rain delay, including nine sixes. Finch was on for a maximum run over hitting five sixes in a row, before the final ball crashed into his pad, then the final over, he took the bowler for four sixes in a row, before being caught at long off at for 122 from 116 balls.
Mo Rizvi made six not out on his first outing in a Kent Spitfires shirt, facing only 5 balls. Kent finished 252/7 from their allotted 44 overs.
More rain fell which meant more overs were lost, and Norfolk now required 240 from 36 overs.
Mikey Cohen and George Garrett got the visitors off to a flying start, leaving Norfolk 31/5 from 5 overs.
Cohen opened up the Kent account as he had Fairey caught by Ben Compton for 4 (6) before George Garrett struck first ball trapping Arthurton LBW.
Garrett’s fourth ball also picked up a wicket as Cooper suffered the same fate, this time for 4. Cohen’s next over went for 11 before having B Wilcox stuck in front of the stumps, and being wrapped on the pad for 9. Cohen then found the edge of A Wilcox, with Jack Leaning making the catch. With the over being a wicket-maiden.
Wicks and Hood started a strong fightback for Norfolk producing a 43 run partnership off 42 balls before yet another spell of rain came in, with the Hosts behind on DLS.
The task was an uphill task after the final delay leaving Norfolk requiring a further 132 runs off 12 overs.
Corey Flintoff came into the attack and despite being slightly expensive, took wickets and therefore took the game away from the hosts, finding the edge of Wicks, trapping Hood LBW before bowling Hamid Qadri for his final wicket.
A valiant final-wicket stand between Callum Metcalf and Andy Hanby but despite the partnership being worth over a run a ball, the task was too much leaving 53 runs required off the final 6 balls. Metcalf finished 32* and Hanby 18* but the visitors walked away winners by 42 runs using DLS.
Mikey Cohen was the pick of the Kent bowlers with 4/33 from six overs.
View scorecardThe Metro Bank One Day Cup is back!
Get #MetroBankFever and take advantage of £1 tickets for Under 14s during the school Summer Holidays:
Get your One Day Cup tickets now
Scramble your squadron and enjoy discounts on tickets for groups of six or more!
