Grant Stewart—a relative unknown in the English game—showed some remarkable character on day one of the County Championship match versus Gloucestershire. He led an incredible national-level counter offensive for Kent. Stewart’s effort was one of his finest, the wicketkeeper-batsman smashing an undefeated 173 from 174 deliveries. His batting fireworks, including 19 boundaries and 5 maximums, helped Kent recover from losing both openers before lunch to post 386 for 6 at the close of play.
The final happened in the picturesque Bristol ground, as sunny skies hovered over the bright young things battling for glory. Stewart scored a career-best 171 runs in his innings. He further proved his class and purpose by anchoring the Kent innings after a horror start. Chris Benjamin joined him, working his way to an excellent, steady chanceless 82 not out. Their unique and essential partnership turned the momentum horribly in favor of Kent.
The seventh wicket pair of Stewart and Benjamin staged an astonishing unbeaten stand of 249 runs in just 56 overs, revitalizing their team’s chances in the match. This partnership helped deliver the largest recovery in Kent’s history. The duo broke Kent’s record for the highest seventh wicket partnership in any form of the game. They went on to better the previous best of 248 set by Arthur Day and Punter Humphreys against Somerset in 1908 at Taunton.
Stewart’s dream innings grew steadily as he made his first 150 runs off 152 balls. He unfurled a beautiful cover drive to send Zaman Akhter to the fine leg boundary, bringing up his maiden hundred. He achieved this remarkable landmark in only 120 balls, with his twelfth four. At the other end, Benjamin built his half-century slowly and cautiously, scoring his runs from 129 balls and not doing anything extravagant in the process.
Even with the powerful coalition, Kent encountered hurdles from the get-go. Jaydn Denly weighed in heroically with 39 off 51. He was swiftly undone by Ajeet Singh Dale, whose first wicket, a catch by Denly, was the sparkling finish to an excellent spell. Harry Finch left with the tiniest of scores at one run. He served up a first wicket catch, a simple one, to James Bracey standing in behind the stumps.
For Dale it was certainly a day to remember as he remained Gloucestershire’s best performer taking four for 97 runs. His other contributions meant that Kent were always under the cosh in the first throes of their innings. Josh Shaw and Tom Price took one wicket apiece. On a day when none of the Gloucestershire bowlers could make the breakthrough, Stewart and Benjamin proved a formidable partnership.
At the end of the day’s play, Kent were well placed at 386 for 6. Stewart and Benjamin were instrumental in making sure that provision was included. Their unforgettable performance gave proof not just to their own gifts but to the determination of the entire squad to push through all odds stacked against them.
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