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Darren Stevens takes career-best haul in Kent's win against Surrey

Darren Stevens says the Kent side is full of match winners as they thrashed Surrey by 220 runs.

In a match where records tumbled at The County Ground in Beckenham, he picked up a career best 6-25 and moved to 152 One-Day wickets.

Kent’s batters piled on 384 batting first, equalling their record One-Day total, with Heino Kuhn hitting 117 at the top of the order for his first century for the club.

The Spitfires have won four games in a row pushing them up to second in the South group after losing their opening two games.

Darren Stevens. Picture: Andy Jones
Darren Stevens. Picture: Andy Jones

Stevens said: “In those first two losses we were very close and we’ve learnt from that. We haven’t put pressure on ourselves and the boys have done what they do. There’s a lot of match winners in there.

"The boys got wickets early doors and it freed it up for me a little bit as the run rate went up to nine and guys were looking to take me on.

“I look to hit the stumps and I hit the stumps. It gave me the freedom to bowl what I wanted to bowl. It’s always great picking wickets up but to get my career best was really pleasing.

“Our chat upstairs was that whatever happens we take it down to the last ball or the last over because we know they have a lot of match winners in their side.

“The big thing was to take wickets early on and that was crucial as the rate goes up.”

At 42, Stevens continues to defy the years with breaking records and reaching milestones.

He admits he still has the hunger and drive to win games of cricket for Kent.

Darren Stevens.Picture: Andy Jones
Darren Stevens.Picture: Andy Jones

Stevens said: “A couple of weeks ago, I’m standing in the slips next to Adam Rouse and I just turned to him and said I’ve never had butterflies like this. I’ve still got the drive.

“I’m easing off the training side as the schedule is busy at the moment but I still enjoy running around and keeping up with the younger lads. I love the game, I love competing and I love winning.

“The culture the coaches has brought, Joe Denly in early season, Sam Billings coming back now, the people we’ve brought in and the youngsters coming through have all bought into that culture.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it but it’s amazing.”

Kent have won four consecutive games in the One-Day Cup to lift them to second in the South group.

They have two games left in the group stages, the first against Gloucestershire at Beckenham and the second against Essex at Chelmsford on Wednesday.

Catch up with the latest episode of the Kent Cricket Podcast below:

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