Watch: 'Dog stops play' as hilarious scenes unfold during Durham vs Kent match

The county championship match between Kent and Durham had an unexpected pitch invasion by a dog, which hilariously stopped action for a few moments on Saturday, September 28.

In Short

• The dog wandered on to the field mid-way through Day 3
• Durham posted 360 runs in their first innings
• The dog's arrival left the on-air commentators amused

The Durham vs Kent county championship match on Saturday, September 28 had an unexpected pitch invader in the form of a dog, who made his way to get a closer look at the action. At the halfway stage of Day 3, the dog suddenly wandered onto the field, capturing the attention of both the players and the spectators. The incident occurred when Durham skipper and opening batter Alex Lees was batting at 135*, having just been joined by David Bedingham at the crease.

The dog, seemingly intrigued by the action on the field, stood beside one of the Kent fielders. However, it seemed like he wasn't too pleased with how the match was unfolding as the cute canine decided to make a quick retreat back to the boundary line, which drew an amusing reaction from the crowd and the on-air commentators. You can see the full video below:

Despite the unusual interruption, Durham maintained their strong performance throughout the match. After being put into bat by Kent skipper Jack Leaning, Durham's captain Alex Lees led the charge with a sparkling century. Lees scored 144 runs from 180 balls, including 18 boundaries, setting the tone for Durham's innings. He was well-supported by Emilio Gay, who contributed 52 runs from 96 balls, and David Bedingham, who smashed 66 runs off just 38 deliveries. Bedingham's aggressive batting included three boundaries and six sixes, showcasing his prowess as Division One's leading run scorer.

Kent's bowlers, however, did not go without making an impact. New ball pacemen Grant Stewart and Nathan Gilchrist, along with leg-spinner Matt Parkinson, managed to take crucial wickets. Parkinson was particularly effective, securing a six-wicket haul with figures of 6 for 109. This fightback gave Kent some hope, although Durham's total of 360 runs still left Kent trailing significantly.

Kent's response to Durham's first innings was not ideal, as they lost early wickets. Tawanda Muyeye was caught behind for just 5 runs, and Jaydn Denly's wicket followed soon after. However, a partnership between Harry Finch and Jack Leaning, worth 72 runs, helped stabilise Kent's innings. At the close of Day 3, Kent were 96 for 3, still 264 runs behind Durham's total.

The match is crucial for Durham as they aim to climb higher in the County Championship Division One 2024 points table. The first two days of the match were completely washed out due to heavy rain, adding to the pressure on both teams to make the most of the available time.