Table-topping Kent welcome Gloucestershire to Beckenham’s County Ground tomorrow evening for another crucial NatWest T20 south group clash.

Having survived Sunday’s ‘Gale-force blast’ of 15 sixes by Somerset’s Chris Gayle to land a three-run win in Taunton last time out, after five starts Kent lead the group by four points from second-placed Middlesex.

Gloucestershire lie third having played two games fewer.

The Spitfires are ably led by Sam Northeast, the competition’s leading scorer with 330 runs.

They go into the Beckenham clash brimming with confidence and boasting an 85.7 win percentage over Gloucestershire, having triumphed in six of their seven previous T20 encounters against the West Country county.     

Gloucestershire also provided the opposition in 1954 when Kent first played at the venue, then the Lloyds/TSB Bank social club ground, and which has since undergone major refurbishment.

The match also represents a homecoming for Kent’s former vice-captain Geraint Jones, England’s 2005 Ashes hero who joined Gloucestershire in the close season after 14 seasons with the Hop County.

Jones, who is Gloucestershire’s four-day skipper, is looking forward to playing at Beckenham and batting again on a pitch of high renown.

The former England gloveman said: “I expect it to be a good wicket as per usual there and a pretty high-scoring affair as a result.

“When you look at it, Spitfires are top by a margin yet guys like Darren Stevens and Sam Billings, who would both have expected to feature, have not quite hit their straps as yet.

“But that can be the nature of NatWest T20 Blast and although I’m delighted for Sam and his England one-day call-up, we’ll be hoping to keep him quiet for just one more match.       

“That said, Kent are flying with confidence and have played some exceptional cricket other than the defeat against Middlesex at Lord’s.”

Jones added: “Let’s face it, we’ve all suffered days like that in T20.

“When nothing goes right in this format you’re very quickly on the wrong end of a heavy defeat.

“Sam Northeast is leading their side and run charge and is in the best form I’ve seen for a long time, so we’re under no illusions - Kent will be a tough nut to crack.”

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