Jones calls for a big crowd at Beckenham – tickets available!

KENT Spitfires wicketkeeper Geraint Jones wants the team to finish the group stages in style with another Twenty20 Cup victory tomorrow. The Spitfires play the Surrey Brown Caps looking to make it four successive T20 wins. Kent have already booked their place in the quarter-finals and, with it, a place in Division One of next year“s EPL. Victory tomorrow at Beckenham will hand them a home tie in the last eight.

And Jones is obviously hoping that happens: “Finances are tough in sport, at the moment, and everyone is feeling it so hopefully we can get the win and book our home tie. The fans give us tremendous support and it would be lovely to get a home quarter-final. It will reward the fans and bring in some much needed finance so we will go all out for the win.”

The Kent and England gloveman played a prominent part in last night“s crucial win at the Rose Bowl. He shared in an unbroken stand of 102, for the fourth wicket, with Darren Stevens and enjoyed the win under the lights in Southampton: “First and foremost, it was great to get the victory and it was especially good to win at the Rose Bowl. I don“t think the Hawks had been beaten at home in the T20 this season so it shows just what a good side we are in this form of the game. We got off to a great start, getting the early wickets, and I always felt we were in with a good chance at the halfway stage – even though they got a few more at the end than what we were hoping. We then lost a few wickets ourselves but Stevo (Darren Stevens) and I were able to steady things and put on the century partnership. He was hitting it everywhere so I just played the anchor role and supported him.”

Jones has enjoyed a fine time with the bat so far this season and thinks simplifying things has helped: “I“m not looking to complicate things. I“m just looking to score in the areas where I feel confident and it is paying off for me. It was pleasing to contribute last night and help the boys to a great win.”

The Spitfires won the reverse fixture with the Brown Caps, at the Brit Oval, although the game ended in slightly heated circumstances with Kent being penalised six penalty runs and a Surrey player being run out in the last over to help the Spitfires through to victory. “Emotions were certainly running high up at the Brit Oval! It was a great win for us – especially considering the six penalty runs. It put them into a good position, needing only eight from the last over, but Martin van Jaarsveld held his nerve to complete the run out and it sparked jubilant Kent celebrations. It was a shame that it got a bit heated but I don“t expect a repeat at Beckenham.”

It will be Kent“s first trip to the County Ground, at Beckenham, this summer and Jones is looking forward to it: “It“s always a fantastic wicket and we always get a good crowd for matches up at Beckenham. Hopefully we will win it and get the home draw we need. A lot of runs are generally scored and I don“t expect it to be any different this year. It will be a great one for the fans and I hope they get right behind us and come out in numbers.”

The game starts at 14.30 tomorrow afternoon and tickets will be available on the gate. The Kent Spitfires need the win to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup. Please show your support and come along and back the Spitfires!

Picture courtesy of Sarah Ansell