Key delighted with final spot

26 July 2008

Rob Key is congratulated after catching Essex dangerman Graham Napier

Kent captain Robert Key was relieved to see his side progress to the Twenty20 Cup final after their 14-run win over Essex at the Rose Bowl.

Batting first, Key put on a quickfire 58 for the first wicket with Joe Denly which - despite Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria’s 3-36 - set up the Spitfires’ total of 173 for seven.

Essex skipper Mark Pettini’s 59 appeared to put the Eagles on course for victory until the opener was run out and his side faltered to 159 for eight.

Key was delighted with his side’s performance, adding: “Twenty20s are a nightmare when you are in the middle of them.

“They are fantastic when you are sitting back watching and when you’ve won you think ‘what a great experience that was’.

“But it is daunting because one over changes the game. We got off to a decent start, lost wickets, but still managed to get 170 - which is a decent score on any wicket in Twenty20.

“Without Danish Kaneria’s bowling, we would have got up close to 200.

“Our bowlers at the death were fantastic. Yasir Arafat bowled a fantastic last two overs. Azhar and Yasir have been brilliant for us really.

“We just try and set the game up for them and they did their job brilliantly. Our fielding was exceptional. Our catching was very good.

“People just really stood up. It is easier when you have got a score on the board to be better in the field.

“The pressure is all on the batsmen. It was one of those days when they hit the ball in the air and the catches stuck.

“We had a lot of guys out there giving it everything.”