Sway were in the closing overs of their innings when wicketkeeper Kent went to take a leg-side wide, didn’t take the ball as cleanly as he would have liked – and ended up in hospital with the ring finger on his left-hand dislocated.
“Having the finger put back in place was very painful. Simultaneously, while I was in A & E Sway’s bowlers ripped through our top order,” he explained.
Kent, who made 97 in Fareham’s opening league win at Andover the previous week and had been in good nick in the pre-season games, added: “I’m so gutted about it. I put in a lot of effort in pre-season to get everything right, started the season well and then this happens.
“The doctor estimates it takes six weeks to heal, but hopefully will be a bit shorter. I have a follow-up appointment next week, when I should find out a bit more.
“I really can’t thank Sway enough. They were very supportive, offering ice packs and lifts to the hospital etc.”
Fareham’s ten men were bowled out for a disappointing 106 (James Headen 33) – former Kent and England Under-19 seamer Hugh Bernard taking 4-27, 14 of which were wides.
Table topping Sway earlier recovered from 88-5 to make 217-8, Dave Steadman hitting 69.