Spitfires name squad to take on Surrey in NatWest T20 Blast

Kent Spitfires name an unchanged squad for their return to The County Ground, Beckenham tomorrow (5.30pm).

Kent’s confidence is high in the shortest format after Alex Blake's match-winning 71 not out off 38 balls aided by captain Sam Northeast's unbeaten 60 not out for the Spitfires at The Ageas Bowl last Friday.

Head coach Jimmy Adams said: “It’s great to see lads like Alex Blake thriving on the responsibility of making match-winning contributions and I hope that continues.

“We love playing in front of a big crowd so we hope our supporters in this part of Kent will turn out and get behind the lads.”

Spinner James Tredwell is still out with a side strain.

Kent Spitfires squad: 17 Sam Northeast (capt), 23 Daniel Bell-Drummond, 6 Joe Denly, 20 Sam Billings (wkt), 30 Fabian Cowdrey, 3 Darren Stevens, 10 Alex Blake, 26 Matt Coles, 25 Calum Haggett, 18 David Griffiths, 33 Adam Riley, 24 Adam Ball, 8 Mitch Claydon.

Kent Spitfires v Surrey (Friday, 5.30pm start)

• Kent’s win at Canterbury last season ended a run of three straight T20 defeats against Surrey.

• Kumar Sangakkara requires 43 runs to reach 4,000 runs in all T20s.

• Kent have won 10 of their last 13 T20s at Beckenham.

• The last three matches at Beckenham have been won by the chasing team – 10 of the preceding 11 fixtures had been won by the team batting first.

Kent v Surrey head-to-head in T20 matches:Kent won 9, Surrey won 13.

County cricket's oldest rivalry continues as Kent Spitfires take on Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast at The County Ground, Beckenham on Friday (29 May) at 5.30pm.

Stand tickets are sold out. for the Surrey match. Ground entry tickets are available on the gate from 3.30pm on Friday.