LONDON, July 5: Martin van Jaarsveld’s third hundred this week helped propel Kent into the final of the Friends Provident Trophy, English domestic cricket’s premier 50-over event, as they beat holders Durham.

Former South Africa batsman van Jaarsveld backed up his twin unbeaten centuries against Surrey in the County Championship with a superb 122 not out off 93 balls, while rising English star Joe Denly made 102 as visitors Kent comprehensively defeated Durham by 83 runs at the Riverside on Friday.

Those two hundreds formed the backbone of an impressive total of 301 for four with discarded England fast bowler Stephen Harmison taking all the wickets to fall as he showed some of his old fire on the way to a haul of four for 47.

Durham’s South African captain Dale Benkenstein gave the hosts hope with a fine innings of 80 not out.

But when Will Smith, who helped his skipper add 108 for the fourth wicket, was out the innings started to fall away and, although there was a brief flurry from former South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock, Durham lost their last five wickets for 10 runs.

Van Jaarsveld, who cuts a distinctive figure at the crease with a ‘baseball’ style backlift that sees the blade of his bat held vertically high above the stumps as the bowler runs in, struck three sixes and nine fours.

Summarised scores:

Semi-final:

KENT 301-4 (M. van Jaarsveld 122 not out, J. Denly 102; S. Harmison 4-47) v DURHAM 218 (D. Benkenstein 80 not out, W Smith 56); Kent bt Durham by 83 runs.—AFP