Second XI win T20 double-header v Surrey
Ollie Robinson, James Tredwell and Alex Blake hit fluent fifties as Kent stepped their preparations for the Vitality Blast with two wins against oldest rivals Surrey at New Malden.
After back-to-back wins against Middlesex at Uxbridge on Tuesday, Min Patel’s squad secured two more wins to take an early lead in the table with two matches against Sussex on Thursday (28 June).
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In the first match, five of the six bowlers used took a wicket with Imran Qayyum (1/27) the pick and academy scholar Tom Davis and James Tredwell each taking 1/29 in four overs as Surrey posted 166-6.
Ollie Robinson continued his fine form at the top of the order with a 27-ball 50 as Kent posted 51 in the six-over powerplay.
James Tredwell struck an unbeaten 54 off 37 balls to keep Kent’s momentum and Will Gidman’s 20 off 11 helped him reach the target with an over to spare.
In match two, Kent won the toss and opted to bat first with Folkestone’s Australian import Jarred Lysaught hitting 46 off 24 balls as Kent were 54-1 after six overs before Alex Blake blasted four fours and seven sixes in a blistering 29-ball cameo worth 68 runs.
Skipper Gidman maintained a high strike rate with 25 off 12 as the middle order played unselfishly to keep the scoreboard moving up to 198 all out with four balls unused.
In reply, Surrey could not keep up with the required rate with Sandwich Town leg-spinner and former Kent scholar Jan Gray the pick of the attack with 1/27 off four overs as the hosts fell ten runs short of victory.
Next up, Kent entertain Sussex at The County Ground, Beckenham (free entry) before the first home T20 there on Friday 13 July (5.30pm) against Hampshire.