Kent to sit down with Darren Stevens for discussion over future after Headingley heroics

Stevens, who is out of contract at the end of the season and was previously told that his time at the club would be up, followed up a man-of-the-match display against Nottinghamshire with his highest ever first-class score at Headingley

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Kent director of cricket Paul Downton has stated that the club will sit down with veteran allrounder Darren Stevens in the next few days, after the 43-year-old struck a remarkable, run-a-ball 237 for the county against Yorkshire.

Stevens, who is out of contract at the end of the season and was previously told that his time at the club would be up, followed up a man-of-the-match display against Nottinghamshire with his highest ever first-class score at Headingley.

At Trent Bridge, he had taken two five-wicket hauls, as well as striking 88 with the bat. Yet, against a Yorkshire attack that had earlier run through Kent’s top order, pushing them to 39 for five, Stevens produced an extraordinary display.

He struck 28 fours and nine sixes in his 225-ball knock, with Yorkshire’s overseas signing, Ajaz Patel, coming in for particular punishment.

Downton, the former England director of cricket, said after play: “Darren has put together some match-winning performances for Kent in recent matches and we would be foolish to ignore his recent form.

“Obviously, such performances cannot go unnoticed and we’ll be sitting down with ‘Stevo’ after this match to discuss his future. It has been great to see his return to form.”

Stevens added: “When I came in, I just said, ‘I’m going to be positive – run hard, try and get off strike, tick it over’. That was it really. We were in serious strife.

“My intent was up. Any bit of width or anything full, I was putting my hands through it.

“I don’t know what else to say really. When you’re in situations like that, it’s a case of, ‘Let’s try and get to 150, to 180, then to 200’. But it kept going.

“I’m loving playing and want to play for another year. My body’s good, I’m bowling my overs and getting my runs now, and I want to keep playing.

“Yes, it will come to an end, but at the minute it’s not that time. I’d love to stay. I don’t want to move away from Kent. Let’s see.”

Last week, after his heroics in a comprehensive win that culminated in Nottinghamshire’s relegation, head coach Matt Walker had admitted that there was still time for a possible U-turn.

He said: "We're never afraid to put our hands up and say maybe we got this wrong.

"We are allowed to change our minds and we want to reward performance and at the moment Darren's performances are right up there."

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