Our first round of Kiwi County Tour is a wrap and in a quiet moment to myself as I waited for Logan van Beek to finish his post-match antics, was how lovely it was to start this year's KCT with two young lads doing their thing in England. Soon we'll welcome Lord Jeetz on to the bus and he adds his own level of delight as an awesome veteran, but for van Beek and Matt Quinn to be leading us off this year is a low key salute to the quality of kiwi cricket beneath the surface.

Logan van Beek

Derbyshire vs Durham

Offering a solid all-round performance, it's easy to see what's possible for van Beek in County Championship Division Two. Batting #9 in the first innings, van Beek hit 8 off 25 before having his stumps touched as Derbyshire were all out for 197 and van Beek then came in as the fourth bowler used to take 1w @ 2.76rpo in 13 overs as Derbyshire had Durham all out for 171.

Van Beek then played a solid knock with 19* off 50 balls to help stretch Derbyshire's second innings with the bat out to 334, setting Durham a target of 361. As the third bowler used, van Beek took 2w @ 2.86rpo in 15ov with Derbyshire dismissing Durham for just 235 and sealing the win. Both of van Beek's wickets here were in the top-six and he took the wicket of opener and top-scorer for Durham, Gareth Harte on 69.

Crucial runs late in the innings and wickets, maybe not a heap of wickets that we know van Beek can take but chipping in with wickets to combine with those low key runs. All of that combines for an influential performance from van Beek and I'm fizzing to see how van Beek develops with greater familiarity of the conditions.

Van Beek currently sits on 3w @ 26.33avg/2.82rpo with the ball and is next in action Friday NZT as Derbyshire are away to Gloucestershire.

Matt Quinn

Hampshire vs Essex

Unfortunately for Matt Quinn and Essex, they were rolled by Hampshire. Not that it was any doing of Quinn's though as he was the best bowler for Essex in their lone innings with the ball, taking 3w @ 3.58rpo in 29 overs. The issue was that Hampshire hit 525/8dec and while Quinn took two top-three wickets, Hampshire were in control after Quinn dismsissed opener Joe Weatherley in the 13th over.

With the Essex batsmen not doing their job, Quinn didn't get another chance to roll the arm over. Essex were all out in their first innings for 164 and Quinn got a 5-ball duck batting #10 (#11 but Essex had an injury rule out their wickie), then Quinn managed a not-out in the second dig as he was stranded on 0* off 9 balls and Essex all out for 275.

That was enough to hand an easy win to Hampshire, but for Quinn this was a solid start to the season. 29 overs in the one innings gave Quinn the opportunity to bowl, a lot and although this came because Hampshire were dominant, the chance to get that many overs in for the first game, sets Quinn up nicely moving forward.

Quinn's on 3w @ 34.66avg/3.58rpo and Essex are away to Surrey on Friday.

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Peace and love 27.