Walker: We must bat better
Head coach Matt Walker has urged his batsman to deliver more runs to reignite the Spitfires’ Royal London One-Day Cup season.
Daniel Bell-Drummond and Heino Kuhn each contributed scores of 90 but Walker believes the top six need to step up for Kent to get back to winning ways.
The former Kent batsman said: “There has been glimpses individually of where we want to be but not as a collective unfortunately.
“You have to play well as a team in these games you can’t rely on one or two people to see you home, especially when you are chasing a score like today, which I didn’t think was out of reach at all at the halfway stage.
“With the bat we are not adding enough contributions through the order. One or two are doing things, Heino today and Daniel a little bit today and against Sussex.
“You can’t rely on one person to get you home. Unfortunately there are too many players not quite delivering with the bat.
“It’s leaving us short of runs and there’s plenty to work on from that front but I don’t think we are a million miles away. I think there are some signs that we are starting to find our feet but this competition is a quick one.”
Paul Stirling hit 125 as Middlesex reached 313-9 off their 50 overs. Kent’s bowlers pulled it back in the last 15 overs with the home side 240-2 but struggled towards the end.
Matt Henry (3-60) and Calum Haggett (3-59) were the pick of the Spitfires bowlers.
Walker said: “I think we did pretty well in the first half. I think Paul Stirling played a brilliant innings in the way he can take a game from you. We responded well and clawed it back nicely in those middle overs.
“Calum Haggett bowled really well and got us back in the hunt. I thought it was a little bit over par.”
The opening home One-Day match is against Glamorgan next Friday (25 May) at The Spitfire Ground before Somerset come to Canterbury on Tuesday 29 May (2pm).
There’s also a double-header at The County Ground, Beckenham against Surrey (Friday 1 June) and Gloucestershire (Sunday 3 June). Both matches start at 11am unless stated with gates opening an hour before.
See all four One-Day Cup and seven T20 home group games with a Spitfire Membership to gain access to the best seats and save on gate prices. Junior Memberships (under 18s) cost £30.
Become a member for the 2018 season >
Book One-Day Cup tickets to save on gate prices >
