UK goes barmy over Matt Henry catch as Kent reach England one-day final video

Sky Sport

Black Cap Matt Henry's brilliant catch cut short Brett D'Oliveira's innings and helped Kent into the England one-day final.

For once, Matt Henry didn't star with the ball for his English county Kent.

Instead the Black Caps seamer continued to make an impact with a running one-handed grab labelled the catch of the year in the UK to help Kent reach the one-day final at Lord's on June 30.

Henry, who took 1-60 off his 10 overs with the ball in the semifinal against Worcestershire, clung onto a ripper at long on to remove Brett D'Oliveira for 78 in the 38th over of the home side's innings on Sunday.

Worcestershire posted 306-6 and Kent snuck home by two wickets with two balls to spare, thanks to their South African import Heino Kuhn who hit 127 - his fourth century in five innings in the Royal London One-Day Cup competition.

 

It sparked jubilant scenes on the players' balcony at New Road as Kent booked a spot against either Hampshire or Yorkshire in the decider. The online reaction was barmy in praise for Henry too.

Henry and Kuhn are vying to be county cricket's most influential import of 2018 and Kent are reaping the rewards.

Under the tutelage of former South African fast bowler Allan Donald, Henry sits second equal on the one-day wicket charts with 16 at an average of 30.4 and economy rate of 5.4. Only Lancashire's Matt Parkinson (18 wickets at 18.2) is ahead of him. But it's in the second division of the county championship where Henry, 26, made his biggest impact.

Black Caps bowler Matt Henry is dominating English county cricket in 2018.
FILE PHOTO: PHOTOSPORT

Black Caps bowler Matt Henry is dominating English county cricket in 2018.

In five first-class matches for Kent, Henry has 43 wickets at an average of 11, including four five-wicket bags and two 10-wicket match hauls.

The next highest wicket-taker in division two is South African quick Duanne Olivier, with 26 wickets at 23.6 for Derbyshire.

In five first-class matches for Kent, Matt Henry has 43 wickets at an average of 11.
FILE PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

In five first-class matches for Kent, Matt Henry has 43 wickets at an average of 11.

In division one, Nottinghamshire's Jake Ball and Hampshire's Fidel Edwards lead the wicket-taking charts with 27 apiece, further emphasising Henry as the dominant red ball bowler in English cricket this year.

Kent's next match is a big one against the Jeetan Patel-captained Warwickshire at Tunbridge Wells starting on Wednesday night (NZT).

Warwickshire are runaway leaders in division two in the race for promotion, 24 points ahead of Kent.

AT A GLANCE

Matt Henry's stunning English county season for Kent:

County championship, division two (first-class): 5 matches, 43 wickets at 11, strike rate 23.8, best bowling 7-45

Royal London One-Day Cup (50 overs): 10 matches, 16 wickets at 30.4, economy rate 5.4, best bowling 3-37

* Henry is 16 clear of the next highest wicket-taker in both divisions of the county championship, and is second-equal on the one-day wicket charts, two behind the leader.