Cricket World's Player of the Week - Zak Crawley, Kent CCC

England opener Zak Crawley returned to form with a fantastic double century to give Kent a fighting chance in their Vitality County Championship clash, eventually falling short by 8 wickets.

The players stepped back onto the field welcomed by the gentle embrace of the afternoon sun. Crawley seized the opportunity presented by the now evened-out pitch, capitalizing on the prime batting conditions.

His century was reached with a forceful pull, sending the ball racing to the boundary off the left-arm seam of Tom Lammonby, marking his 18th boundary in what had been a regal display of batting prowess.

Tea was called at 197 for 1, Crawley standing tall on 117, as 43 overs remained in the extended day's play. As the final session unfolded, Crawley navigated through a couple of tense moments, his shots teasingly evading fielders' grasps.

The introduction of the new ball proved decisive as Crawley fell victim, caught behind off Pretorius while attempting a back-foot shot through the off-side. Nightwatchman Gilchrist too succumbed, bowled by Pretorius on the very last delivery of the day.

Crawley's innings, a stark departure from his previous form in the Championship this season where he managed only 67 runs in seven innings, concluded just before stumps at 238. His commanding display saw him face 267 deliveries, dispatching them to the boundary ropes on 31 occasions and lofting four over them for sixes.

Kent head coach Matt Walker said: “We lost the game in both first innings. It wasn’t a 500 pitch when Somerset batted or a 175 one when we did.

“Having bowled well this season, we couldn’t find the right lines and lengths. Perhaps 300 would have been a par score, but to let them get past 500 was very disappointing.

“First innings batting has been a problem and it’s one we need to address. Things don’t get any easier with Essex as our next opponents.

“Having said all that, there were certainly positives to be drawn from the character the players showed to take the game into late on the final day. Zak Crawley’s innings was amazing and Joe Denly batted well in both innings.

“If he and Grant Stewart could have stayed together for another half hour today we might have had a chance. But four-day cricket is full of ifs and buts and that was certainly the case for us in this game.

“We found ourselves two bowlers light today. Nathan Gilchrist has a sore back, which shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but George Garrett will miss the next game with his groin injury.”

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