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Kent Cricket head coach Matt Walker urges Spitfires to build on Somerset win

Head coach Matt Walker is hoping Kent's excellent win over Somerset can be a turning point in their NatWest T20 Blast qualifying campaign.

Thursday's seven-wicket victory over the Sabres at the Spitfire Ground St Lawrence was Kent's first in four South Group matches, and Walker says it sets them up nicely for the game against pacesetters Glamorgan at Canterbury on Sunday (3pm).

He explained: "You never want to build a game up too much, you try to take the pressure off the guys as much as you can but it was a big game (against Somerset) and I think they knew that.

Matt Walker. Picture: Andy Jones
Matt Walker. Picture: Andy Jones

"I think when you're in this competition you know you've got to try and get your head above water a little bit and get yourself up towards the top of the division.

"This was an important win, we wanted to get two points to lead us into the Glamorgan game and into next week (Kent travel to the Ageas Bowl to play Hampshire on Tuesday).

"If we can get on a bit of a roll, and win two or three games in a hurry then it gives us breathing space going into the business end of the group stage.

"It's all about momentum, getting into a bit of a rhythm and winning games of cricket but it's such a tight division and the games will always be tight.

"We know this format is so volatile, it throws up huge frustrations at times, with games lost and won in the space of 10 balls or so.

"You don't want to beat yourself up too much about it, get too deep about it when things go wrong you've just got to make sure you take your chance when it comes."

Looking ahead to the visit of Glamorgan Walker said: "They are another dangerous side, they've got winners throughout their team and they've had a good campaign so far.

"It's just another game we've got to treat really seriously and make sure we're absolutely on it from ball one.

"They (the matches) just come thick and fast you just know you've got to be at your absolute best because if you're not sides will catch you out with the players they've got.

"We should be full of confidence and we'll do our research and give Glamorgan the respect they deserve but I'd like to think that when we play at our best we're a challenging side to beat"

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