Match Preview: Sussex Sharks vs. Kent Spitfires
A trip to the 1st Central County Ground in Hove is next up for the Kent Spitfires as they face the Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast.
With no victories after their first two matches in quick succession, Kent will be looking to get off the mark in the competition against their rivals on the South East coast, who are also looking to pick up their first points of this campaign.
Jack Leaning (74) is currently Kent’s top-scorer in this year’s Blast, with the right-hander also hitting the most sixes for the Champions to date (5), followed by all-rounder George Linde (4) and captain Sam Billings (3).
South African Linde also currently has a tournament batting strike rate of exactly 200.00.
Fred Klaassen’s three wickets so far have come at an average of 18.66, with two wickets from Matt Milnes and one apiece from spinners Linde & Qais Ahmad.
Opposition report
Sussex Sharks are in the same position as Kent with two defeats in their first two games, but will be heartened by the performances of Pakistan international Mohammad Rizwan, who has two half centuries in as many matches for the Sharks this tournament so far.
Australian Josh Phillipe is also in the Sharks’ ranks this season, and has scored 40 runs in two innings so far as a Sussex players.
With the ball, veteran seamer Steven Finn has three wickets at an impressive economy of 5.60, with left-arm spinner and big hitter Delray Rawlins (2) and Ravi Bopara (2) also in the wickets.
Live Streaming
Sussex Sharks vs. Kent Spitfires will be streamed live inside Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website, with pictures and YouTube feed being provided by Sussex CCC.
Team News
There’s one change from the squad that took on Essex Eagles at Canterbury on Friday night.
Right-arm seamer Jas Singh is included in the squad of 13 to replace Grant Stewart, who was ruled out of Friday’s defeat with an injury.
Darren Stevens is also unavailable due to injury.