A rain-shortened Vitality T20 Blast match saw Kent Spitfires narrowly defeated by South Group leaders Surrey at The Kia Oval on Sunday.
Surrey, after being put in with an unfamiliar batting lineup, reached 103-5 from 10 overs following a delayed start of over two hours. Just as Kent was about to begin their chase, further rain resulted in them needing 87 runs from eight overs under the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method.
Despite late efforts from Feroze Khushi, who scored 35, and Sam Billings, who hit a six off Reece Topley in a costly seventh over, Kent finished on 81-3. This marked Surrey’s seventh win out of 10 games, while Kent, with seven losses from their first 10 matches, seems to be slipping out of contention for a top-four finish and a quarter-final spot.
Several key moments defined the fast-paced game, including a brilliant fourth over from leg-spinner Cameron Steel (1-4), who bowled the dangerous Tawanda Muyeye for 22. Muyeye had earlier hit Dan Worrall (0-22) for a four and a six in the second over, but a tight third over from Jordan Clark (0-6) and Steel’s over left Kent at 29-2 with half their innings gone.
Khushi smashed Chris Jordan (0-21) for a six over long-on, and Billings hit the Surrey captain for four to keep Kent in the hunt. However, Khushi’s dismissal at the end of the penultimate over, well held by Steel at long-on, left Kent needing 17 from the final over.
Jordan began the last over with a no-ball, but new batsman Tom Rogers could only manage a four from the free-hit. Despite his efforts, he and Billings (14 not out) couldn’t find the boundary again, and Jordan’s accuracy under pressure sealed the win for Surrey.
Surrey’s innings included a crucial final over in which Grant Stewart (2-24) conceded 19 runs, including a waist-high no-ball that Ben Geddes hit for six. Laurie Evans and Dom Sibley contributed key sixes, and despite some solid bowling from Kent, Surrey’s total proved just defendable.
Kent’s chase began poorly with Daniel Bell-Drummond falling for a duck. Despite some promising moments, they couldn’t recover from the early setbacks.
Kent captain Sam Billings reflected on the fine margins of the game, praising his bowlers but lamenting missed catches and the powerplay performance. Kent faces Essex at Chelmsford next on Thursday, followed by a match against Sussex Sharks at Canterbury the following day.
