Sam Billings: It’s great to get over the line

Sam Billings helped boost Kent Spitfires' hopes with a fine unbeaten century in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

The England one-day batsman said: “It’s great to get us over the line. I’ve sort of hinted at getting that sort of score but then got us over the line, so to do it today is great.

“It was all set up by Fabian (Cowdrey) and Deebz (Daniel Bell-Drummond) and then Blakey (Alex Blake) stuck around to help get us there.

“We knew that if we took it down into the last few overs we’d get close on a good wicket, with a shortish boundary on one side, but I’m so pleased."

The 24 year old graduate of the Kent Cricket Academy also paid tribute to the bowlers after they fought back to take six wickets for four runs in 10 balls, including a Matt Coles hat-trick.

“Every credit should go to the bowlers for what they did at the end. From where Notts were at they probably should have got over 350.”

Notts skipper James Taylor said: “I thought our batting was exceptional for 46 overs but the way we finished out innings cost us massively.

“Even if we’d just scored an extra 15 or so I think it would have taken us out of Kent’s reach, the way we bowled.

“But you have to put your hands up and say well played to Sam Billings. It was an exceptional knock and he put us under pressure throughout.”