Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs. Somerset
Kent Spitfires will look to build upon their return to winning ways with the visit of Somerset to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in the Vitality Blast.
The hosts go into the ‘Hops/Cider Derby’ after a 28-run DLS victory over Essex Eagles – the Spitfires’ opening pair of Daniel Bell-Drummond and Zak Crawley posted 82 runs between them in Kent’s powerplay at Chelmsford, before the bowling attack took four Eagles wickets in five overs before weather ended the Battle of the Bridge.
After his 50, made in 28 deliveries, Bell-Drummond is now Kent’s highest run-scorer in the competition, with 258 from eight innings.
Jack Leaning (232), Jordan Cox (223) & Zak Crawley (218) have all now passed a double-hundred in aggregate Blast runs this season.
Matt Milnes is now the tournament’s third-highest wicket taker with 13 victims at 15.46 – his two wickets against Essex Eagles going for just 15 runs in three overs. Fred Klaassen also has 11 scalps at 18.63.
The Spitfires currently have 12 points from their six South Group victories in eight matches so far, and are joint-top of the group with a game in hand on rivals Gloucestershire.
Kent and Somerset have faced one another 17 times in T20 cricket, with the Spitfires winning 12 and the visitors five.
Tickets
Any remaining tickets, and tickets that our Members have returned to us after they can no longer attend, are on general sale until 14:30 on Monday 28 June. As more tickets are released/returned, they will be available to purchase.
Click here to check for Kent Spitfires vs. Somerset ticket availability >>>
We urge any Members that have booked Vitality Blast tickets and do not intend to use them to contact the Club as soon as possible, so that they may be made available to their fellow supporters.
Tickets will not be available on the gate.
Last time out
Daniel Bell-Drummond hammered 50 off 29 balls as Kent Spitfires beat Essex Eagles by 28 runs on DLS – after lightning and then rain brought an early end to the Vitality Blast match.
Bell-Drummond clubbed his third fifty of the competition during an 89-run stand for the first wicket with Zak Crawley.
The Spitfires endured two collapses to slump to 167 for nine as Simon Harmer claimed four for 26, including his 50th Blast wicket for Essex, and Dan Lawrence a county T20 record of four catches in the innings.
But 31 for four, including two scalps for Matt Milnes, in five overs meant the Eagles were short of the DLS target of 59 – handing Kent their sixth victory of the campaign.
Opposition Report
Somerset defeated Hampshire Hawks by seven runs in their last outing on Friday, with Tom Banton scoring 77 runs from 37 deliveries, and Will Smeed hitting 63 not out, before 3-46 from Lewis Gregory helped see Somerset home.
They now have eight points from seven Blast matches in the South Group, winning three ties.
The visitors will be without their current top run-scorer in Tom Abell for the trip to Canterbury, after the right-hander was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Smeed has 135 runs in four innings for Somerset this year in T20 cricket, whilst paceman Josh Davey is their leading wicket taker with eight scalps at 19.75.
New Zealand’s Devon Conway will be available for Somerset for this fixture after making his debut on Friday, but opener James Hildreth is out with a hip injury.
Somerset squad in full: Lewis Gregory (Captain), Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Devon Conway, Josh Davey, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Ben Green, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Will Smeed and Max Waller.
Return of spectators
It’s our top priority to welcome you back to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, and to do that safely, we all have a role to play.
Because COVID-19 remains a part of our lives for the time-being – everyone – including the players, officials, staff, stewards and Members – will need to adhere to COVID-protocols to make the return of spectators a successful, and hopefully a permanent one.
PARKING UPDATE
Due to recent heavy rain, and further rain forecast over the weekend at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School, the Club has confirmed that the parking field is currently unusable and therefore will be unavailable on Monday 28 June.
All the information you need to adhere to the Club’s COVID-protocols upon your return to watching the Kent Spitfires live can be found in the below Match Day Information Pack:
VIEW MATCH DAY INFORMATION PACK >>>
Live Streaming
Kent Spitfires vs. Somerset is live on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK. There will therefore be no Live Stream, however a live scorecard will run in the Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website.
Team News
Adam Milne is in-line to make his first Kent Spitfires appearance since 2019 after arriving for the beginning of his fourth stint as a Spitfire.
As a reminder, sides in the Vitality Blast are allowed three overseas players in their matchday squad, with two in the Playing XI.
Tim Groenewald (knee) remains unavailable for this match.
Sam Billings is unavailable after being called-up to England’s IT20 squad to face Sri Lanka. Daniel Bell-Drummond will continue to captain the side.
Kent’s full Matchday Squad, presented by Shepherd Neame >>>
Be in with a chance of winning Darren Stevens’ signed match-worn Vitality Blast shirt by buying any piece of Samurai Sportswear Kent Cricket merchandise online or in-store before 18 July.
Purchase your Samurai Sportswear Kent Cricket merchandise here >>>
Match Previews of Kent Spitfires’ Vitality Blast fixtures are proudly sponsored by Shepherd Neame >>>
