Defeat to Surrey was the fifth in a row for the Spitfires, who are one of only two sides yet to get off the mark in the 20-over competition
Kent Spitfires have been drained of confidence following a desperate start to their T20 Blast title defence but are unprepared to throw the towel in, according to batting coach Ryan Ten Doeschate.
Surrey inflicted upon Sam Billings' side their fifth successive defeat at the start of the campaign, securing a comfortable 32-run victory at Canterbury on Friday (June 3).
After being set 160 to win, Joe Denly hit a steady 44 but of the other four players to reach double figures none scored more than 16.
England quicks Reece Topley (3 for 24) and Chris Jordan (2 for 27) shared five wickets as Kent ended on 127 for 9.
Ten Doeschate joined Kent as batting coach during the winter after his retirement from professional cricket. Alongside his 382 T20 outings as a player, he was part of the Essex side that won the Blast in 2019.
"We changed our tactics here, obviously we wanted to bat second and chase judging from the first two games," he said, according to the ECB Reporters Network. "We didn't feel the wicket was terrible, but it wasn't an absolute belter.
"I feel like we've been out skilled and there's been a drain in confidence from our first four games. It's certainly not our best that we've put out there and I feel for the guys.
"I think Surrey are a very accomplished side but I think Kent are as well, they're reigning champions."
Kent host Middlesex on Sunday as they look for their first win of the season (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Though Hampshire Hawks sit below them in the South Group on net run rate, Kent have lost all five T20s since winning the title at Edgbaston last September.
Individual returns have been lacking, too. The entire batting line-up has hit one fifty in five innings, while no bowler has more than the six wickets claimed by Fred Klaassen.
The run of form follows their winless start in LV= Insurance County Championship Division One, which has seen them lose two and draw four of their opening six games.
"I think confidence has got a big part to play, and some of the batters are a bit scratchy at the moment," added Ten Doeschate, whose side face Middlesex this weekend.
"I think 160 was a fair score but 20 off the last over changed the mood a little.
"The things that you could point your finger at with champions like complacency or arrogance, or shying away from the work that's absolutely not the case with this group.
"Everyone's trying really hard. It's just a case of dusting ourselves off and keeping on coming.
"It's not fair to say the tournament's gone, I've seen guys turn it around. It's a long way back from here, but let's focus on Sunday (June 5)."
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