Spitfires squad to take on Sussex in NatWest T20 Blast

Kent Spitfires will bid to regain the outright south group leadership with victory over third-placed Sussex Sharks in Friday night’s NatWest T20 Blast sell out in Hove.

Only a point separates the sides going into week eight of the popular short-form event, but Sussex – who have lost in four of their last five T20 starts against Kent – will still be smarting after losing the fixture at Canterbury in May.

That night the Sharks appeared to be coasting to victory as they chased down Kent’s 185-9. But, from looking good at 112 for one, Sussex lost their way and, after a late flurry of wickets, were restricted to 178.

Kent travel to the south coast without death bowling specialist David Griffiths, who will miss the rest of the season after undergoing back surgery this week.

But the visitors welcome back Sam Billings from international duty and Darren Stevens and Matt Coles, who both rested niggles during Kent’s four-day clash with The Australians.

Stevens needs eight runs to become the first cricketer to score 3,000 runs in English domestic T20s.

Spitfires also name Oxford MCCU captain Sam Weller in their T20 squad for the first time. A 20-year-old paceman from Sidcup who cut his teeth at Millfield School, Weller is another graduate of the highly regarded Kent Cricket Academy.

Spitfires squad to face Sussex at Hove:17 Sam Northeast, 23 Daniel Bell-Drummond, 6 Joe Denly, 20 Sam Billings, 30 Fabian Cowdrey, 3 Darren Stevens, 10 Alex Blake, 24 Adam Ball, 26 Matt Coles, 15 James Tredwell, 5 Ivan Thomas, 8 Mitch Claydon, 19 Sam Weller.