Alex Blake gunning for glory in Spitfires T20 Blast quarter-final
Wednesday 12th August 2015
Master blaster Alex Blake says he’s feeling good with the bat in hand ahead of Kent’s NatWest T20 Blast Quarter final clash with the Lancashire Lightning.
Speaking after playing a match-winning knock in a Second XI trophy match on Tuesday, the 26-year-old said: "In the last few outings, I’ve felt very good and hopefully I can take that into Saturday and get a few more out the screws."
Blake’s wonderful year with the bat continued as he steered Kent to victory with a crucial 97 not out against Sussex in a Second XI Trophy game on Tuesday.
In an innings that came off just 70 balls, Blake looked to be positive throughout, smashing seven sixes.
The Kent Cricket Academy graduate said: “I think you have to be positive, that’s the way people are playing nowadays and it’s usually a really good wicket at Beckenham where you can play your shots."
Kent’s second successive win in the Second XI Trophy saw them overtake their opponents and move up to fourthin the south group table.
Imran Qayyum also took 3 for 44 off ten overs and helped restrict Sussex to 269 for 7 after they were 100 for no loss.
In a rain-affected game, Kent won by being ahead of the Duckworth Lewis score after a second rain interruption saw the game finish 16 overs short.
“It was raining for quite a while and we weren’t quite sure what the Duckworth-Lewis target was. It got a bit heavier at drinks and they put the target up and we were always a bit ahead of it until we lost a couple of wickets when we crept below so it was important to get ahead of that again before we went off."
Blake said: “I’ve just focussed on being positive and playing my shots and it’s been coming off for me.
“That’s the way I play my best, taking good options, not so much high risk options but good options and backing myself to clear the ropes."