The stats behind the Spitfires’ super start in NatWest T20 Blast
Friday 17th July 2015
The 2015 Natwest T20 Blast has been a breakthrough year for the format in England, attendances are up and people are being treated to more runs, wickets and excitement than ever before, writes Oliver McManus.
The Spitfires are through to the quarter-finals after posting two totals above 200 this year, 231/7 against Surrey and 227/7 against Somerset.
Two Kentish batsmen average above 50: Sam Northeast with 53.34 and Alex Blake with 50.33 respectively.
To illustrate the explosiveness of the Spitfires line-up, every player has a strike rate above 100 except Calum Haggett who has scored at a not-too-shabby 80.
Skipper Sam Northeast has led from the front, hitting 589 with the bat and a high score of 114. Daniel Bell-Drummond has scored 311 runs whilst Alex Blake has also breached 300 with 302.
Mitch Claydon is the tournament's sixthhighest wicket taker, at 18 with a best of 3/16. Meanwhile, Darren Stevens continues to be a solid all-rounder, with a high score of 90 and taking 14 wickets.
To partner Kent’s impressive performance with the bat, three bowlers possess economy rates of less than eight an over – James Tredwell (7.14), Mitch Claydon (7.68) and Ivan Thomas (7.90) – not too bad when you consider that Kent's average score this season is now above 180.
In the field, Matt Coles is the tournament’s fourthbest fielder in terms of catches this season, with eight. Alex Blake and Joe Denly have pouched five apiece, with Denly having held three chances against Hampshire in May.
With the gloves, Sam Billings has ten dismissals from nine innings, his deputy Ryan Davies also performed well in his three matches with five dismissals.