Match Preview: Surrey vs. Kent Spitfires
The Kia Oval will play host to another edition of Surrey vs. Kent Spitfires in Vitality Blast action on Friday night.
Kent go into this ‘Oldest Rivalry’ clash off the back of victory in their last T20 outing against Sussex Sharks at The Spitfire Ground last week.
Joe Denly hit 58 and Sam Billings was unbeaten on 33 as Kent eventually coasted home with seven balls remaining, to finish on 159 for four.
Denly now has 416 tournament runs to his name from 11 innings, including a superb century against Middlesex earlier in the tournament. He and two other Kent stars, Jordan Cox and Alex Blake, have hit ten or more sixes in the Blast this season.
George Linde continues to have the highest batting strike rate so far for Kent at 152.03.
The Spitfires’ spin options of Jack Leaning (5 wickets), Qais Ahmad (9) and George Linde (11) are all currently bowling with an economy of under 8.00, whilst Grant Stewart has the most Kent wickets at 13, closely followed by Fred Klaassen (12).
Opposition report
Surrey are top of the Vitality Blast South Group with nine wins out of 12, and have a Net Run Rate of 0.878.
All-rounder Will Jacks has the most runs for Friday’s hosts in the Blast this year, scoring 422 at a strike rate of 146.52 – all of Surrey top batters in T20 cricket this year are striking at 115.00 or over.
Being able to call upon the skills of West Indies juggernauts Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, both overseas signings have contributed heavily with both bat and ball – Narine is Surrey’s second highest wicket-taker (12) and also the most economical (5.86), whilst Pollard has struck 99 runs in five innings at a rate of 141.42.
T20 skipper Chris Jordan has 14 wickets for Surrey at 22.14, whilst left-arm seamer Reece Topley has 13 at 18.07.
Live Streaming
Surrey vs. Kent Spitfires will be streamed live inside Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website, with pictures, commentary and YouTube feed being provided by Surrey Cricket.
Team News
With Sam Billings announced as keeping wicket for England’s fifth Test against India beginning tomorrow, Jack Leaning will captain the Spitfires at the Kia Oval.
Darren Stevens is included in a Kent Spitfires squad for the first time this Vitality Blast campaign after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Nathan Gilchrist & Harry Podmore remain ruled out due to injury, and Zak Crawley has also been named alongside Billings in England’s Test XI.
Jordan Cox is in-line to keep wicket for the Spitfires.
Kent’s full Matchday Squad, presented by Shepherd Neame >>>
