Kent Spitfires Match Preview - 26/08/2022

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Knockout cricket returns to Grace Road for the first time in 11 years, as the Foxes prepare to take on Kent in the Royal London Cup quarter-finals.

Coincidentally, the fixture will be the first home knockout game since Leicestershire beat Kent in the T20 Blast quarter-final in 2011, where now Head Coach Paul Nixon hit a crucial 31 as a player to help the Foxes to a three-wicket win.

Both sides scraped over the line to earn qualification in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, with the Foxes edging a two-wicket victory over Durham, while Kent also recorded a two-wicket triumph “ beating Lancashire at Canterbury.

Last Time We Met:

It’s been 12 years since the two sides last met in a List A competition. The meeting came in the Clydesdale Bank 40, where Kent cruised to an eight-wicket win at Canterbury in Group C.

After electing to bat, the Foxes got off to a strong start, progressing to 75 for one within ten overs. But a collapse meant they were dismissed for 148, James Benning top-scoring with 37.

Kent chased the total with 13.5 overs and eight-wickets to spare, current 50-over captain Joe Denly contributing with an impressive 39 up top.

In Focus:

Rishi Patel could be starting to hit form at the right time. After a slow start to the competition, a crucial 54 anchored the Foxes’ tense chase against Durham on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old moved down a place to three, although he was thrust into the fire after just one delivery following Nick Welch’ first ball dismissal. The Chigwell-born batsman displayed a calm maturity despite wickets tumbling around him to put on a 98-run partnership with Arron Lilley after coming together at 60 for six.

It backs up an impressive 2021, in which Patel averaged 45.57 at a strike rate above 95, with his 319 runs just three behind top-scorer Lewis Hill. Those runs included a maiden career century and career-best score of 118 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. 

Opposition Player to Watch:

It’s been an impressive competition for Kent batsman Ollie Robinson. With 369 runs, he’s leading the way for the Spitfires.

206 of those came in a superb unbeaten knock on the opening day in a comprehensive seven-wicket win away at Worcestershire, adding two further half-centuries to his tally since.

The 23-year-old is averaging 61.5 in this summer’s edition of the RL50, and boasts an eye-catching strike rate of 135.66 to boot.

However, the Foxes’ attack will be hoping to mirror his innings on Tuesday, where he was dismissed for a second-ball duck by Jake Blatherwick.

Squad:

Leicestershire Foxes: Barnes, Bowley, Davis, Finan, Hendricks, Hill *, Kimber, Lilley, Mulder, Patel, Steel, Swindells +, Walker, Welch, Wright.