THE FACTS
When is Kent Spitfires vs Somerset taking place? Saturday, 20th July, 19:00 (UK)
Where is Kent Spitfires vs Somerset taking place? The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury
What is the expected weather for Kent Spitfires vs Somerset? 20-21c with clear skies and no rain forecast
What television channel is Kent Spitfires vs Somerset on? Kent Spitfires vs Somerset will be televised live on Sky Sports Cricket
Where can I stream Kent Spitfires vs Somerset? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for Kent Spitfires vs Somerset? Check https://www.ecb.co.uk/T20-Blast for updates about tickets
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Kent Spitfires W11, Somerset W3, No result 1
Last meeting: Kent Spitfires beat Somerset by 5 runs
THE TEAM NEWS
KENT SPITFIRES
Coach: Matt Walker
Captain: Daniel Bell-Drummond
- Kent Spitfires finished second in the South Group last year but were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Lancashire Lightning so they will be aiming to go further this time around but they have a difficult start to the campaign.
- While they have dominated recent meetings in this format against Somerset, they are without England stars Joe Denly and Sam Billings due to an international call-up and injury respectively, while Heino Kuhn is also unavailable due to a concussion suffered in the county match against Hampshire.
- Overseas signings Mohammad Nabi and Hardus Viljoen have both trained with the team this week and have been named in the squad, and the Spitfires will be hoping both can make a major impression in the tournament this year.
SOMERSET
Coach: Jason Kerr
Captain: Tom Abell
- Somerset kicked off their 2019 T20 Blast campaign in style on Thursday against Glamorgan as they chased down a target of 181 thanks to Babar Azam and Tom Banton’s electrifying opening partnership which laid the foundations for the victory.
- The duo shared an opening stand of 98 from just 8.4 overs with Banton in particularly good form hitting 64 from 34 balls in the eight-wicket win and they will look to make it two wins from their opening two matches here.
- Skipper Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach are unavailable due to his England call-up so Tom Abell is asked to lead the side, while Tim Groenewald and George Bartlett have both been added to the squad for this match.
THE PREDICTION
Kent have been something of a bogey team for Somerset in recent years in this format having won their last 10 meetings in the T20 Blast. They will have a tough task in extending this streak however due to their various absentees as Denly, Billings and Kuhn will be sorely missed. Somerset have a couple of absentees themselves, but they still have plenty of quality in their ranks with Babar Azam and the Overton brothers leading the way. They should have enough quality and momentum from their opening win to break their poor form against the Spitfires.
