South African overseas all-rounder George Linde is out to prove to Kent’s fans just what he can do this summer.

Linde, 31, has found some form in Spitfires’ last two T20 defeats after enduring a tough first season of his two-year all-format deal with Kent.

He scored an 11-ball 22 not out and took 2-28 in Sunday’s last-ball loss at home to Surrey, two days after inspiring a similarly positive finish to their innings in the seven-wicket defeat against Glamorgan in Cardiff with 26 not out in 12 balls.

Linde, who found rhythm over the winter in his native country, said: “I was playing good cricket before I came.

“I struggled in the first couple of games. But I’m still pretty confident, I still back myself, I know what player I can be, and I’ve got to prove to the Kent fans who I really am.

“Hopefully, this season it will happen. I’m pretty confident that it will.”

Linde arrived at Kent in 2022 with a knock. There were glimpses of what he could do - being involved in a 264-run fifth-wicket partnership against a Sri Lanka Development XI a highlight - although Linde never quite hit top form.

He feels in a good space this term but isn’t yet firing on all cylinders.

“Last year was a tough year,” he admitted. “Mentally, I was struggling and, physically, I was struggling.

“But now I’m feeling good, feeling positive. I’m not there yet - but I’m almost there.

“What you have seen in the last couple of games, that’s more like me.

“Hopefully, I can put in some matchwinning performances.”

Linde missed the start of this summer with Kent after becoming a dad in March. Fatherhood comes with perks - but also added responsibility - for the left-hander.

He said: “It’s nice. After a tough day at the office, you go back home, see your baby, just smile and what’s a loss? Family is more important.

“But it’s also stressful because, obviously if I don’t do well, then possibly I’ll sit without a job. I play for him, I play for my family and I play for myself.

“I want to make my friends proud, my family proud, everyone proud.

“That’s who I represent.”

Spitfires, due to host Essex Eagles in their latest T20 clash at Canterbury in front of TV cameras tomorrow night, are at risk of repeating last year’s dismal campaign. They won their opener against Gloucestershire but have lost four in a row since.

Linde is hoping to draw inspiration from last year’s triumphant Royal London One-Day Cup season after they found form following a last-ball six against Yorkshire Vikings.

“Definitely we can turn it around,” he noted. “We spoke about it at the previous game [at Glamorgan] what we did last year in the One-Day Cup.

“It took something special from an individual. We needed six runs off one ball and Grant Stewart ended up hitting a six, and that just changed the whole season around. We ended up winning the competition.

“So we’re definitely not out of the competition.

“We just need a bit of momentum so, as soon as we win the next one, then we’ll start building some momentum and start winning.”