Richard Mann previews the Vitality T20 Blast quarter-final between Kent and Lancashire which takes place at Canterbury on Thursday.
Kent left it late to book their place in the last eight of this season's T20 Blast, winning their final three games in a real test of nerves that should set them up perfectly for Thursday's crunch clash with Lancashire.
Narrow defeats over Middlesex and South Group table-toppers Somerset left the Spitfires needing to win their last group match against Essex to seal a home tie in the quarter-finals and they showcased what a fine outfit they have become with a blistering batting display.
With a daunting 202 required for victory, Daniel Bell-Drummond blasted 80 from only 51 balls - ably supported by Joe Denly and Sam Billings - as Kent won with a ball to spare, displaying resilience and calmness under pressure that should stand them in good stead now the tournament has reached the knockout stages.
Kent's white-ball cricket has been one of the highlights of the domestic season and having made the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup earlier in the summer, they have maintained those high standards in the shortest form of the game.
Key to Kent's success has been the continued excellence of stalwart Joe Denly who has already amassed 396 runs at an average of 39.60 in this year's competition while his leg-breaks have brought him 19 wickets, including a hat-trick on the same night as when plundering 102 against Surrey in early July.
As ever, Denly will be key to Kent chances against Lancashire but they are by no means a one-man team - as Bell-Drummond demonstrated against Essex - while Billings is an excellent player whose experience of the Big Bash and IPL has shone through in his captaincy and batting over the last few weeks.
Denly's bowling should cause Lancashire plenty of problems but Kent have plenty of variation in their attack with New Zealand quick Adam Milne providing raw pace and excellent control along with the experienced Mitchell Claydon.
With so many tools in their armoury and the benefit of home advantage, Kent rate a knocking bet at 10/11 to see off a Lancashire side who have enjoyed an excellent campaign to date but come into this on the back of a seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of Birmingham Bears.
Lancashire still managed to finish third in the North Group but with Liam Livingstone on the sidelines, doubts remain over the strength of their batting which is now heavily reliant on Alex Davies.
Davies is already 510 runs and counting in this year's competition but should Kent claim his wicket early, Lancashire could prove really vulnerable against a home side who tend to score very heavily with the bat.
The visitors can call upon an excellent bowling attack with Matthew Parkinson evolving all the time and Afghanistan's Zahir Khan joining him to form a potent spin pairing.
Australian James Faulkner remains a canny death bowler - for all he has lost his aura - but Lancashire's frail batting line-up will need to put big runs on the board if they are to stand a chance against such a strong and well-balanced Kent outfit.
It could be a trial by spin for Kent, but one I fully expect them to come through.
Posted at 1100 BST on 20/08/18.
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