Match Preview: Sussex Sharks vs. Kent Spitfires
Kent Spitfires travel to Hove to take on high-flying Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast at The 1st Central County Ground.
The Spitfires will be looking to bounce-back from their first home defeat of the Vitality Blast to the hands of Somerset on Monday night.
Despite missing out, the Spitfires are still joint-top of the South Group of the competition, with 12 points from nine matches so far.
Daniel Bell-Drummond is now Kent’s top T20 run-scorer in this year’s Blast with 286 runs, with Zak Crawley (257), Jordan Cox (239) and Jack Leaning (237) all having passed the 200-run mark in the tournament to date.
Matt Milnes is Kent’s most successful bowler to date with 13 victims. Fred Klaassen also has 11 scalps to his name
Last time out
Kent Spitfires suffered their second defeat of this season’s Vitality Blast after being bested by eight-wickets against Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Gloucestershire successfully chased down 148 to give Kent their second loss of the campaign, with the visitors still sitting top of the South Group at the end of play.
Opposition Report
The Sharks head into facing the Spitfires after a no result in their match against Surrey, bizarrely one-ball away from completing five second-innings overs and producing a DLS win for the Sharks.
Their previous completed encounter was their first defeat of the competition, at the hands of Gloucestershire by 27 runs.
Both Phil Salt and Luke Wright have led the way with the batting for Sussex this tournament, both recording over 100 runs over the course of Sussex’s six completed batting innings to date, and averaging over 60.00.
T20 specialist paceman Tymal Mills and left-arm seamer George Garton has nine and eight wickets respectively in the competition for the Sharks, both averaging under 14.00 with the ball.
After eight fixtures for the Sharks, the Hove-based side have three wins, one defeat and four no results.
Sussex Sharks squad in full: Luke Wright (Captain), Will Beer, Ravi Bopara, Oli Carter, Mitchell Claydon, Henry Crocombe, Travis Head, Chris Jordan, Archie Lenham, Tymal Mills, Delray Rawlins, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Aaron Thomason, David Wiese
Live Streaming
Sussex Sharks vs. Kent Spitfires will be embedded into the Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website, with pictures coming via Sussex Sharks.
Team News
Kent have named an unchanged 14-man squad from the visit of Somerset to Canterbury.
Tim Groenewald (knee) remains unavailable for this match.
Sam Billings is unavailable after being called-up to England’s ODI squad to face Sri Lanka. Daniel Bell-Drummond will continue to captain the side.
Kent’s full Matchday Squad, presented by Shepherd Neame >>>
NEXT HOME MATCH
The oldest rivalry in county cricket heats up once more as Surrey make the journey from South London to face Kent Spitfires at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
Click here to check for Kent Spitfires vs. Surrey ticket availability >>>
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.
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Match Previews of Kent Spitfires’ Vitality Blast fixtures are proudly sponsored by Shepherd Neame >>>
