Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs. Gloucestershire

Wednesday 28th August 2019

Men’s First Team

Vitality Blast

Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs. Gloucestershire

The Vitality Blast South Group heats up to a boiling point as Gloucestershire travel to Canterbury to take on the Kent Spitfires at The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence on Thursday.

Frank Woolley Stand tickets sold out – VERY limited ground entry tickets still available >>>

A historic ‘bogey’ team for the Spitfires, Kent have not beaten the Bristol-based side in T20 competition since July 2016, when 51 from Joe Denly helped the Spitfires set Gloucestershire a target of 149 for victory in Bristol.

The Spitfires successfully defended their total of 148/7 with wickets from Mitchell Claydon (2-24) and David Griffiths (2-22). Overseas star Kagiso Rabada (1-19, 4.75 economy) also helped to keep Gloucestershire’s scoring rate down.

A win for either side will secure the victor a quarter final berth in the competition, where the top two teams from the South Group will face the third and fourth placed sides from the North, and vice versa.

Gloucestershire are currently in second place despite being dead level on points with the third placed Spitfires, both with 14 points. The visitors edge into second place due to a superior net run rate.

Both sides are now only three points off finishing as low as eighth out of nine in the group, whilst Sussex Sharks have already claimed top spot with a five point gap over the two sides with two matches to play.

Kent are boosted by the signing of South Africa captain Faf du Plessis for the remainder of the competition, including the knockout phases should they qualify.

Marcus O’Riordan and Matt Milnes made their career T20 debuts against Surrey last week as the Spitfires lost out to a now resurgent Oval side by only one run.

Hardus Viljoen has taken the most wicket for Kent in this tournament, with 18 from 10 matches at an average of only 15.27.

Alex Blake has hit the most sixes for the Spitfires so far with 11, whilst Daniel Bell-Drummond has scored 305 runs so far in ten innings, at 30.50.

David Payne has taken 12 wickets so far for Gloucestershire, who will be without talisman Benny Howell – out for the rest of the season due to injury. Miles Hammond is currently the visitors’ top run scorer with 240 in ten matches.

Things you need to know

Live streaming

  • We will NOT be live streaming home Vitality Blast fixtures this season
  • The live streaming of away matches is subject to broadcasting rights and the discretion of the host county

Getting here

  • The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence in Canterbury enjoys good travel links with London and the rest of Kent
  • Full travel information can be found here
  • Gates open at 17:00 – two hours before the start of play
  • Both the Main Gate on Old Dover Road and the Nackington Road gate will be open but please allow plenty of time for entry
  • ALL bags will be searched on arrival – save time by leaving bags at home and leave plenty of time to get into the ground before start of play
  • NO alcohol will be allowed into the ground

Parking

  • There will be no public pay-on-the-gate or life member on-site parking (excluding pre-paid parking pass holders & blue badge holders)
  • Parking is now available at Simon Langton Girls’ School and will cost £10 on the day (free for life members). This cannot be booked in advance
  • On-site parking for blue badge holders costs £15 for the day and cannot be booked in advance
  • We highly recommend use of the New Dover Road Park & Ride – CT1 3EL (£3.50 per day) – More information here
  • Additional Park & Ride services will run to and from the ground to fulfil demand before and after the match

Tickets

  • Very limited ground entry tickets are still available for £25 adults, £7 juniors
  • Existing Life, All-Rounder, Spitfire and Junior members and all Six Pack package holders with days left on their package do not need to purchase tickets as all capacity calculations are done with member and package holder attendances in mind.
  • This fixture counts as one day in the Six Pack package
  • In line with the club’s Wet Weather Policy and to ensure supporters remain informed, all ticket purchasers from this month’s abandoned matches with Glamorgan (Wednesday 14th) and Sussex Sharks (Friday 16th) can still exchange their tickets for this match, or have a ticket credit added to their ticketing account that can be redeemed against tickets and memberships for next year.
  • Tickets from either washed-out match are NOT redeemable on the gate for this fixture

Match enhancement

  • Our friendly mascots Victa and Victoria will be in attendance
  • There will be a post-match player autograph session by the barrier outside The Lime Tree Café
  • No ball games are permitted near parked vehicles in the ground but access to the 3G football pitch inside the Kent Cricket Academy is available for use (no food is to be taken on)

Food & Drink

  • Spectators are NOT permitted to bring ANY alcohol into the ground
  • Food and sealed soft drinks are allowed

Concessions

We offer a variety of food concessions during the Vitality Blast, with a wide range of selections including vegan, vegetarian and options for children:

  • A Taste of Thailand
  • That’s Amore Pizza
  • Rad Burger
  • The Cheese People
  • Taco Bill
  • Hutt Dogs
  • The Naughty Egg
  • Public bars in the Cornwallis Room (first floor of Colin Cowdrey Stand) and Les Ames Stand
  • Beer marquee

The club operates a Challenge 25 policy at all bars serving alcohol at The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence. If you’re lucky enough to look under 25 years of age, please bring photo ID with you if you’re purchasing alcohol inside the ground.

Toilets

Toilet facilities are located around the ground:

  • Behind the Big Screen
  • Behind the Leslie Ames Stand
  • Behind the Frank Woolley Stand
  • Behind the Underwood & Knott Stand
  • Leslie Ames Bar
  • Cornwallis Bar (First floor of the Colin Cowdrey Stand)
  • Disabled toilets in the Leslie Ames entrance area and behind the Woolley Stand

Shop

The Kent Cricket Shop is located next to the Frank Woolley Stand and in the side of the Colin Cowdrey Stand and sells a variety of Kent Cricket merchandise, including:

  • Kent Cricket replica shirts
  • Kent Cricket branded clothing and accessories
  • Kent Cricket memorabilia
  • Cricket equipment
  • Hockey equipment

Cash machine

  • All bars support contactless card payments but if you require cash, there is a cash machine situated at the Sainsbury’s Local outside the main entrance to the ground

Weather

  • We are expecting hot weather and sunshine at this fixture
  • Spectators are advised to wear sun cream and stay hydrated
  • Sadly cricket matches are sometimes adversely affected by rain and play can be stopped
  • View the club’s Wet Weather Policy here

Using indecent or offensive language, or the making of all racially abusive comments and/or actions will not be tolerated and will result in immediate ejection from the ground and possible further action.

There’s less than one month to go until the biggest night of the year – the Spitfire Kent Cricket Awards!

Tickets are on sale now >>>