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Mitch Claydon says Kent Spitfires still have room to improve in T20 cricket

Mitch Claydon believes Kent have still to reach their peak in this year's NatWest T20 Blast competition.

The Spitfires climbed to fifth in the South Group after Thursday's impressive seven-wicket win over Somerset, but Claydon admitted the performance at the Spitfire Ground St Lawrence was far from perfect.

Claydon, who stands fifth on Kent's all-time list of T20 wicket-takers, said: "The thing for me is that we've won three games in this competition now and I still wouldn't say we've been anywhere near our best or perfect.

Mitch Claydon Picture: Andy Jones
Mitch Claydon Picture: Andy Jones

"We can get better on all fronts. I don't think we've put a game together where we've bowled well and batted well so hopefully that's something we can work on."

Seamer Claydon, 34, was Kent's standout bowler amid the runfest against Somerset, producing eight dot balls on his way to figures of 1-25 from four overs.

That spell followed his superb final over against Sussex at Hove where he kept the home side down to just seven runs in a nerve-shredding climax to help Kent earn a tie.

Against the Sabres Claydon initially helped stem the run flow during the middle overs but he admitted on a wicket which he said was a credit to groundsman Simon Williamson, it easily could have gone differently.

He explained: "It's going one of two ways isn't it? I'm either going to keep going round the park or you get a wicket.

"It's a role that I've never done, (bowling) though the middle, I've always sort of bowled up front.

"It's obviously a little bit easier because you've got five people out which does help but it can go two ways, that's Twenty20, you go or you can be the hero with a wicket or two.

"I thought we did well to keep them to 197, I know that probably sounds quite silly but after the great start they got (Somerset were 73-1 after the six-over powerplay).

"It was almost like the Surrey game in a way, they were probably looking at 215-220 so to keep them to 197 that was probably the difference in the end."

Kent host leaders Glamorgan at the Spitfire Ground St Lawrence on Sunday (3pm) and Claydon expects another tight contest.

He said: "Everyone talks about getting momentum in Twenty20 so hopefully we've got that and we can move onto Glamorgan on Sunday.

"The group is so tight. If you win three games out of four you're going to be pretty much at the top.

"Glamorgan though are a very good side, a dangerous side with some excellent players so we've just got to go out, play at our best and see where it gets us."

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