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Kent Spitfires captain Sam Billings looks ahead to Vitality Blast home opener against Somerset at Canterbury

05:00, 07 June 2024

Kent Spitfires captain Sam Billings is relishing their first home game in the Vitality Blast.

Spitfires host holders Somerset at Canterbury on Friday night (6.30pm).

Kent Spitfires captain Sam Billings. Picture: Keith Gillard
Kent Spitfires captain Sam Billings. Picture: Keith Gillard

“Our support has always been fantastic, it always is, home and away,” said Billings, whose team have started this summer’s T20 competition by beating Middlesex and losing at Hampshire.

“To get back under lights against the current holders will be a tough game but what a great way to start our campaign at home.

“We always play well at home, we’re a tough side to beat, as we showed on Sunday (at Hampshire). We took one of the better sides in T20 history in this country, they’re always a strong side, right down to the wire and we arguably should have won that game.

“We’re in a good space and hopefully we can start our campaign off at home pretty well.

“Somerset are a really good side, they had a good win on Saturday, they bat all the way down and are nicely balanced.

“I think teams are looking at our side as well and saying we’ve got a strong side and bat all the way down, and have got plenty of bowling options. It will be a cracking game and what a great first fixture for the Kent faithful.”

While Billings was keen to focus on the positives from their first two matches, he has also pointed out to his players one key area they need to remain on top of.

They had to bowl the final seven balls at Hampshire with one extra fielder inside the circle after taking too long to bowl their overs.

“The main thing I said in our team chat was that as captain and as bowlers, we need as much help from the fielders as well to get round and that time element really does make a difference,” added Billings.

“Bringing that extra man in for the last seven balls, those little things do make a difference and makes it tougher for the bowlers.

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“That’s one thing at the start of a tournament you need to iron out pretty quickly. We’ve got a couple of young lads who haven’t played that much so just making sure we’re round the whole time in the field.

“The only time I’ll ever get disappointed or frustrated is (with) the stuff we can control. So energy in the field is one and timekeeping in the field is the other one so they’re the things that I’m actually frustrated with because those little margins can make a massive difference to the back end of the game.”

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