Kent Spitfires win Twenty20 match against Surrey by one run
Kent captain Rob Key believes the
Spitfires need one more win from their remaining two matches to
qualify for the knockout stages of the Twenty20 Cup after their
thrilling one-run victory over Surrey Brown Caps at The Oval on
Wednesday.
"I think one more win will do it,"
said Key after Kent’s second successive victory in the South
Division. "The boys are playing some good cricket but I still feel
we can improve, although let’s not forget we are doing all this
without an overseas player."
Having been set 169 to win,
Surrey’s target of 14 from the final over, bowled by Ryan McLaren,
was reduced to just eight when the Spitfires were penalised six
runs for a slow over rate.
After the Brown Caps got a single,
South African Andre Nel then struck a four to leave Surrey needing
three runs from four deliveries. They then scrambled another single
before Jade Dernbach was run out by Martin van
Jaarsveld after going for a suicidal single to
mid-wicket.
Key added: "Because they were nine
down, I always felt we were favourites but it would have been a
tough one for the bookies to call. Full credit to Ryan McLaren
because he bowled a good final over and then Martin van
Jaarsveld kept his head to run out their batter."
Earlier, van Jaarsveld (54) and Key
(44) were the chief run scorers as the Spitfires posted a total of
168-6 from their 20 overs.
The victory lifted Kent up to the
second in the table, a point behind leaders Sussex who have played
a game more.
The Spitfires are back in action on
Friday when they play the Hampshire Hawks at the Rose Bowl before
finishing their group games with the return meeting against Surrey
at Beckenham on Sunday.
Thursday, June 25 2009
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