Lawes bowls leaders Surrey to big win over Kent

Surrey seamer Tom Lawes finished with career-best match figures of 8-63

Tom Lawes dismissed England duo Zak Crawley and Sam Billings in dramatic fashion early on day three as he claimed a career-best 5-22 to set up Surrey's 10-wicket three-day win over outclassed Kent.

That left reigning champions Surrey needing just 58 to complete their fourth win in six County Championship Division one matches this season.

They got there in just 11.3 overs, just before the scheduled lunch interval, when skipper Rory Burns reverse-slapped Jack Leaning's off-spin for six over third man.

He finished with a run-a-ball 36 not out, while Dom Sibley was unbeaten on 16, to earn a 22-point haul which strengthens Surrey's position on top of the table.

They are now on 104 points, 25 clear of second-placed Warwickshire, who are not playing this week as they are hosting the start of the new T20 season at Edgbaston, while Hampshire will join the Bears on 79 points if they complete an expected win over Northamptonshire.

England opener Zak Crawley could only add three to his overnight 31 as Kent collapsed on the third morning

For Kent it is a third defeat of a summer which for them looks like bringing only a desperate fight against Championship relegation.

It took Surrey only 16 overs on the third morning to take the last six Kent second innings wickets for 61 runs and give themselves their modest victory target.

All-rounder Lawes, still only 20, underlined his huge potential by adding the scalps of Billings, Crawley and Joey Evison to those of Tawanda Muyeye and Leaning late on day two after Kent had resumed on 80-4.

His morning spell was 6.2-1-20-3, adding to the 2.4-1-2-2 of the previous evening, as he earned his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Lawes, who broke into Surrey's senior side midway through last season, now has 36 red-ball wickets from 10 matches at an average of 20.22.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network