Somerset claim maximum points victory after win over Kent

Matt Renshaw hit an unbeaten 82 as Somerset moved into second place in Division One of the Vitality County Championship with an eight-wicket victory over Kent at Taunton.

The visitors battled their way to 564 all out in their second innings from an overnight 409 for five, Joe Denly leading the fight with 67 off 129 balls before being last man out. Grant Stewart hit six fours in contributing 37, while Josh Davey recovered from illness to take two for 40.

That left Somerset a chase of 189 for victory in a minimum of 54 overs. The outcome was never in doubt as opener Renshaw cracked six fours in a 122-ball innings and Andy Umeed made 73 not out as the hosts claimed a maximum 24 points, while Kent took two.

Kent's Harry Finch (20) helped Denly take the total to 455 before Davey had him caught behind edging a defensive shot and Davey struck again as he pinned Joey Evison (17) lbw.

On the stroke of lunch, Beyers Swanepoel edged to Craig Overton at second slip off Migael Pretorius, while Denly and Stewart put on a stand of 59 at the start of the afternoon session. Denly celebrated his fifty off 110 balls with a nick through the slips for four and Somerset were struggling for another breakthrough when skipper Lewis Gregory took responsibility for wrapping things up. Stewart (37) played one big shot too many and got an inside edge onto his middle stump.

With only last man George Garrett left at the other end, Denly was forced to open up and gave wicketkeeper James Rew his sixth catch of the game when advancing down the pitch to a short ball from Gregory.

Kent struck with the score on 24 when Sean Dickson (six) chased a wide leg-side delivery from Swanepoel and glanced a catch to wicketkeeper Finch. Tom Lammonby (30) lost his wicket skying off-spinner Marcus O'Riordan to deep mid-off where Zak Crawley took a comfortable catch. Tea was taken immediately with Somerset 60 for two and Renshaw unbeaten on 24, with a further 129 runs needed.

Umeed looked in good form as the third-wicket pair blossomed in the final session, Renshaw bringing up the hundred with a square cut for two off O'Riordan before his fourth boundary took him to a 76-ball half-century. Umeed progressed carefully to his first Championship half-century and ended the match with a six to extend the unbroken stand to 134 as the home side celebrated victory.