Skipper Sam Billings believes he’s playing his best cricket for Kent Spitfires in a long time.
Billings has 224 runs from six Vitality Blast matches so far this summer at an average of 56, placing him seventh in the competition’s highest run-scorers halfway through the group stages.
It’s a far cry from last summer’s paltry return of 188 runs across 14 innings for the former England international, who still has plenty to offer.
“I think in the past I put way too much pressure on myself to kind of bat for everyone else and try to do too much,” said Billings.
“Look, I’m just giving myself a chance, hitting the ball well and the captaincy comes second. I know that I can offer a lot with the captain’s armband on in the field.
“But actually, I’ve got to give myself a chance with the bat and perform as a batter.
“I’m playing nicely. I think it definitely does help moving up to four, giving myself a little bit more time and being able to get myself in because I know the damage I can do towards the back end of an innings.
“It’s just nice to get up the order and get some runs.”
Billings will hope to continue his form when Spitfires return to T20 action against Nottinghamshire in a cross-group clash at Canterbury tomorrow (Friday) night. Kent then host Hampshire on Sunday afternoon.
They need to bounce back after losing their last group stage match at Essex by just three runs. Billings impressed with 62 off 38 balls that night but it counted for little.
He was particularly frustrated at his dismissal, having hit Wiaan Mulder for two sixes in an over Billings succumbed trying for a third maximum.
“It was frustrating,” reflected Billings. “A bad time to get out.
“I’m playing well but it means nothing when you don’t get across the line.
“I just hit two sixes and, with a wide, we already had 13 off the over from an overseas player.
“I [should have] just gone down the other end and then look to target the next over.
“But, like I said, I’m really happy with the way I’m playing. It’s about that composure, just identifying the targets. In a run chase, you don’t have to hit everyone for 12 or 15 an over.
“It’s identifying the targets. Simon Harmer is a brilliant bowler but off spin on a small ground is a match-up that really favours me.
“It’s having the composure and a little bit of luck.
“I can live with getting out to an off spinner on a small ground if I wasn’t quite there and mistimed it. Poor execution, but the thinking’s right.
“That’s the thing – that batsmanship in this format of the game. You don’t have to hit everyone. It’s just working it out.”
The clash with Nottinghamshire is the first of two Spitfires games against teams in other regional groups. Kent also travel to Worcestershire next week.
“I like the fact there’s a bit of variety with the different groups,” said Billings. “The problem is you come up with one format and you always think it could be done differently.
“It could be luck of the draw of who you come up against, that’s always the thing that people say about this set-up.”
Dian Forrester returns to the Spitfires squad after playing for South Africa A against England Lions.
Zak Crawley is also available after being rested for the last two County Championship games but Tawanda Muyeye is still sidelined under concussion protocols.
