Kent Spitfires skipper Rob Key will undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he is fit enough to face Hampshire in the NatWest T20 Blast South Group clash tomorrow night.
The 35-year-old missed last night’s hammering to Surrey at the Kia Oval due to a hamstring strain sustained during the recent narrow defeat to Gloucestershire.
With the clash at the Spitfire Ground coming just two days after the trip to London, Kent will wait as long as possible before deciding on Key’s fitness.
The opening batsman has been a vital asset to the Kent team this season, blazing 286 runs in eight matches with two half-centuries.
Spitfires head coach Jimmy Adams, whose side are one point off fourth-placed Sussex Sharks, told the club’s official website: “We are hopeful that Rob will be fine Friday night because as the skipper and leading batsman he adds a lot to the team.
“This has now become one of those ‘must-win’ matches if we are going to make the top four in the group and play in the quarter-finals.”
Australian seamer Doug Bollinger continues to rest a shoulder complaint, while injuries keep Ivan Thomas, Mark Davies and ex-Hampshire player David Griffiths sidelined.
With leaders Essex Eagles and second-placed Surrey, who are locked on 12 points with Hampshire, squaring off at the Essex County Ground, James Vince’s side know a return to winning ways will revive their hopes of a top-two finish in the South Group.
Like Kent last night, Hampshire were on the receiving end of a brutal assault from Surrey batsman Jason Roy, who blazed 63 off just 25 deliveries on Friday night.
Despite the convincing loss, Hampshire have kept faith with the same squad, with Michael Carberry and Matt Coles ecpected to feature against their former team.
Skipper Vince told the club’s official website: “We had a blip against Surrey on Friday night and we’re looking to bounce back with two wins in our next two games to give us a good chance for a home quarter-final. We all know we didn’t play well enough against Surrey and we’ll be looking to put it right against Kent.”
NatWest T20 Blast fact
* Hampshire have won seven of their last nine Twenty20 matches against Kent, including a 22-run triumph at the Ageas Bowl last month.