Kent Spitfires | One Day Cup Match Preview - 06/08/2023

Leicestershire are looking for back-to-back wins on the road, facing a tough trip to Beckenham to face defending champions Kent Spitfires on Sunday.

The Foxes began their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, beating Surrey by five wickets with 7.4 overs remaining at The Oval.

The Spitfires also got off to a winning start, beating Yorkshire by two runs (DLS method) during a rain-affected encounter at Scarborough.

Last Time We Met:

The previous meeting between the two sides last August saw Kent take victory by 81 runs at Uptonsteel County Ground at the quarter-final stage.

A fine all-round performance from veteran Darren Stevens propelled the visitors to victory, with Wiaan Mulder’s excellent hand of 81 (71b) the standout showing from the Foxes.

In Focus:

Louis Kimber has a different role in Leicestershire’s List A side this summer. Now tasked with closing out games as a ‘finisher’ at number 7, the big-hitting batsman showed exactly what he’s capable of during Thursday’s opening round win at Surrey.

A destructive 89 not out off just 62 balls, including five enormous sixes, showed his raw power. But also his phlegmatic nature, having arrived at the crease with the Foxes losing Peter Handscomb and Colin Ackermann in quick succession “ still 143 runs shy of the target.

Kimber had an impressive 2022 One Day Cup, hitting 372 runs at an average of 41.33, including his maiden List A ton at home to Somerset. His off-spin is also a threat, adding 7 seven wickets at 23.14.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Joey Evison had a fleeting loan spell with Leicestershire last summer, but came back to haunt the Foxes during the quarter-final clash in August, scoring 62 and taking the crucial wicket of Mulder.

He went on to score 97 in the final against Lancashire and take the winning wicket, ending the campaign with 330 runs at 36.66 and 7 wickets at 28.42.

The all-rounder has started impressively this time around too, smashing a vital 136 in Kent’s opening round win, with the four batsmen around him all scoring ducks.

Squad:

The Foxes name an unchanged 13-strong squad to travel to Beckenham. Ed Barnes (hand) and Michael Finan (stress fracture) remain the only absentees.

Leicestershire Foxes: Ackermann, Budinger, Evans, Handscomb+, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Mulder, Patel, Ramji, Scriven, Walker, Wright.