Watch: Arshdeep Singh castled Essex’s Paul Walter with a ball that first swung and then seamed back in drastically with the second new ball in Kent’s 10th match of the 2023 County Championship season today (July 20) at the County Ground in Chelmsford.

Batting first, Kent were bowled out for 207 in their first innings with several batters getting starts, but none getting past 50. Jamie Porter and Sam Cook took three wickets each for Essex.

In response, Essex started well with the bat with Nick Browne and Alastair Cook registering a 106-run opening partnership that ended with Browne retiring hurt. Arshdeep then took the first wicket of the innings, removing No.3 Robin Das in the 43rd over of the innings, and followed it with the wicket of opposition captain Tom Westley in the 45th.

Walter and Matt Critchley then added 71 runs for the fifth wicket and took Essex to 241-5, already more than Kent’s total of 207, before Arshdeep removed Walter with an absolute peach.

Arshdeep started the ball well outside the left-hander’s off stump and got it to swing back in. After pitching, the ball then deviated devilishly off the surface, cutting Walter in half. He played through the initial line of the ball, looking to defend it with a big gap between his bat and pad, and ended up missing it fair and square. The ball crashed into the top of his middle stump to hand Arshdeep his third wicket of the innings.

Arshdeep has been in decent form in the County Championship this season. Walter’s wicket was his 11th from four games at an average of 34.72 (at the time of writing).

Watch Arshdeep Singh castle Paul Walter with a big, booming inswinger in the County Championship:

Arshdeep Singh with a beauty to remove Paul Walter!#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/VlVvzaYfYR

— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 20, 2023

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