Published: 10:35 AM, 07 September 2026
BD's Hasan Mahmud shins with ball as Kent beat Worcestershire
Hasan picked up four wickets in Worcestershire's first innings before taking another three in the second innings. -Kent Cricket
Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud claimed seven wickets across two innings as his team Kent moved clear of their closest rivals in the County Championship Division Two promotion race with an 84-run win over Worcestershire at Canterbury.
Hasan played a key role with the ball in the both innings in much-needed victory for Kent, finishing with 7-119 from 38 overs.
He took four wickets in the first innings before adding three more in the second to help Kent secure a victory which sent then to second place in the Division Two standings.
Chasing a target of 380 on Day 4, Worcestershire resumed on the final day at 84-3 and were still in contention.
Brett D'Oliveira was anchoring the chase, with Adam Hose and Henry Cullen providing support.
Hasan struck early in the day, trapping Hose leg before wicket for 38. He then broke an 86-run partnership between D'Oliveira and Cullen by bowling Cullen for 45.
D'Oliveira showed the stubbornness required to defy Hasan and Kent and reached a century as Worcestershire moved to 265-5, raising hopes of an unlikely victory.
However, Keith Dudgeon claimed three wickets in 19 balls to derail the chase.
Hasan returned with the new ball late in the innings and dismissed Ben Allison lbw, helping Kent wrap up the innings for 295. D'Oliveira remained unbeaten on 103.
Hasan conceded 68 runs for four wickets in Worcestershire's first innings and took 3-51 in the second.
Kent made 238 in their first innings before dismissing Worcestershire for 217 to take a 21-run lead.
Nicholas Northeast's 132 and Zak Crawley's 54 then helped Kent post 358 in their second innings and set Worcestershire a target of 380.
Worcestershire were eventually bowled out for 295, handing Kent an 84-run victory.
Kent are now 15 points clear of third-placed Northamptonshire, with three matches remaining.
Worcestershire began the final day as heavy underdogs, on 84-3, and looked comfortable early on until Hasan had Adam Hose plumb on the back pad for 38.
Wicketkeeper Henry Cullen then joined D'Oliveira for a stand that took them to 199-4 at lunch.
Their partnership of 86 was broken when Hasan switched to the Nackington Road End and bowled Cullen for 45 with the fourth ball of the afternoon session, but the momentum again swung as Matthew Waite joined D'Oliveira, who drove Dudgeon for two to bring up his century.
The pair looked comfortable until the game turned on its head when Waite chopped on to Dudgeon for 37.
Hasan then took the new ball and got Ben Allison lbw for a duck, before Milnes wrapped things up when he replaced Dudgeon to have Adam Finch caught at second slip.
Second-placed Kent are now on the road to face Derbyshire on Tuesday before their final two home games against the bottom two, Lancashire and Gloucestershire.
Worcester, who now trail Kent by 40 points in fifth, now realistically need to win all their last three games to stand any chance of making the top two. They host Northants on Tuesday, then head to Durham a week later before rounding off the Division Two season at home to Derbyshire.
Earlier, Kent seamer Matt Milnes has heaped praise on bowling partner Hasan Mahmud, calling the Bangladesh pacer a "top, top bowler" after his impressive return to county cricket.
