NORTHAMPTON, England, CMC – West Indies manager Miguel Cummins hit a late opening break with a threatening opening stand after earlier batting with the bat, to give Kent a strong finish to day two of their Group 3 County Championship clash against Job Northampton here on Friday.
The 30-year-old Barbadian, who signed an eight-game deal with Kent last month, bowled left-hander Ben Curran off the underdog for 24 in his second over – the third over before the closure at Wantage Road – as that the guests finished at 91 for one in response to Kent’s massive 455.
Ricardo Vasconcelos was unbeaten at 54, having worn 77 for the first wicket with Curran on a rainy day in the East Midlands.
Earlier, Cummins had struck out a valuable 24 in a last wicket stand run by 63 that helped veteran Darren Stevens beat 116 – his 35th first-class hundred.
Stevens, who turns 45 later this month, faced 134 balls in 3-¾ hours and counted 15 fours and two sixes.
Returning on the day at 34 with Kent on 309 for seven thanks to 79 Jack Leaning and 62 Jordan Cox on opening day, Stevens dressed 64 for the ninth wicket with No. 10 Harry Podmore (28) before finding an alliance at Cummins to complete triple figures.
The left-handed Cummins challenged the Northants bowlers for nearly an hour hitting four fours before losing his middle ring to new ball sailor Tom Taylor.
Afterwards, he praised Stevens Cummins for the partnership he saw to his hundred.
“I’m very grateful for the tail helping me,” said Stevens.
“I was an angry man when Podmore arrived because I thought we were going really nice and I wouldn’t have batted with Miguel before.
“So I told him ‘do you want to face a spin or a vein?’ and said ‘I’m good, man’. ”
Cummins, who has played 14 Tests and 11 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies, saw a three-year contract in Middlesex from the COVID-19 pandemic but secured a contract with Kent for the new season.
And Stevens said he believed the right-winger would be an asset to Kent in the ongoing affair against Northants.
“We bowled quite badly but Miguel looks like a handful and I think he will be key to us.”