REPORT & QUOTES: Derbyshire defeated at Canterbury

Luis Reece scored his second half-century of the match, but Kent defeated Derbyshire by 225 runs at Canterbury.

Milnes took career-best figures of six for 12 as Kent blew the visitors away for just 158 in their second innings, wrapping up the win with 54 overs remaining.

Reece was Derbyshire’s top scorer with 67 but he lacked any real support and the game was over at 2.44 pm, when he holed out to Ekansh Singh and was caught by Chris Benjamin.

A crowd of over 600 took advantage of free entry on the final day, but as on Day Three, when Derbyshire took two wickets in the first over, any late-comers would have missed an explosive start.

Derbyshire began day four on 19 for one and they lost Harry Came, for 18, to the fifth ball of the morning when he edged Keith Dudgeon to Ben Dawkins at gully.

At the start of the next over Milnes got Matthew Montgomery for a duck, caught by Tawanda Muyeye at second slip.

The same combination got rid of Wayne Madsen for four and in a piece of inspired captaincy, Daniel Bell-Drummond introduced Joey Evison after just six overs – he sent Martin Andersson’s off-stump flying with his sixth ball, bowling him for 15.

Milnes then bowled Brooke Guest for a duck, clipping he top of off and although Zak Chappell made 20, he got a jaffa from Jas Singh that kept low and sent his off stump cartwheeling.

The visitors were 103 for seven at lunch and lost Ben Aitchison in the second over after the resumption, caught behind off Milnes.

Milnes then had Rory Haydon lbw for one in his next over.

Reece, at least, was able to enjoy himself, racking up his second 50 of the match when he clipped Jas Singh for four after a misfield by Ekansh Singh. He then had a let off on 53, when he skied Ekansh Singh and the ball went through Sam Northeast’s hands, hitting him on the chest. Reece then pulled Jas Singh for a huge six over square leg, but his luck ran out when he again skied Ekansh Singh, and this time Benjamin hauled in the catch.

Milnes’ previous career-best figures were six for 53 against Leicestershire at this venue in 2021 and this was Kent’s first win in the County Championship since they beat Middlesex in April 2025.

Derbyshire Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, said: “Frustrated and disappointed are the two words that come to mind. As is our whole dressing room. It seems it’s always two steps forward and one step back and we just don’t crack it. It’s very frustrating and very disappointing at the moment.

“As I’ve just said to the lads, it’s tough times and this is what sport does to you. And it’s how you come out of that. You see confidence seep out of the dressing room a little bit, particularly in our batting unit. That was flying at the start of the year, but suddenly one or two dismissals and they start second guessing themselves, second guessing their techniques. And it’s up to us to reassure them and make sure that we get them back to where I know that they can be. So the confidence has seeped a little bit and I saw that from the back end of the innings at Lancashire.

“From having 10 quicks we’re down to five and our quick bowlers are tired. So we’ve got a bit of soul searching to do this week, no doubt and come back strong again. The good thing with county cricket is it comes thick and fast. So we’ve got to get them right and get them ready to be able to put their best foot forward on Friday.

“Confidence for me in the sport is what the most important thing is. And when things don’t go right for you over a couple of weeks, that confidence seeps and that translates into ball. And we’ve seen it, we’ve seen it with the dismissals. We’ve just got to get them back to where they were. I know that every one of these boys can play. I know technically they’re very similar. And I know that when they don’t second guess themselves, they’re very, very good players. It’s up to me and my coaching staff to get them back to where they need to be for Friday.

(On Rory Haydon).

I just thought he came in, bowled beautifully, and he just did what he does. He just gets enough balls in the right area. And on a pitch like that, you get enough balls in the right area, you ask enough questions, you’re going to get enough answers. And I thought he was superb. I’m so happy for him. Because I know how hard he’s worked to get this opportunity.”