Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the fourth Vitality Blast quarter-final...
Fixture: Kent Spitfires v Birmingham Bears
Venue: Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury
Date: Friday, August 27, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
Kent Spitfires topped the South Group, winning nine matches, losing four and having one abandoned. However, the story of Kent's season lies in their final two group matches which they played with a heavily Covid-depleted squad.
Against Middlesex, Kent's scrambled together XI, featuring three Scottish imports, powered its way to 157 for 8 before bowling out their hosts for just 80 runs. Of the seven debutants on show, Elliot Hooper stole the show with three wickets. They lost their final match of the group stage against Sussex Sharks, but had already guarenteed themselves top spot.
Their opponents, Birmingham Bears, finished fourth in the North Group, winning seven matches and losing six. The Bears enjoyed a strong start to their Blast season, winning four of their opening five matches before taking just one point from their next four matches. However, three wins in their final five matches ensured they pipped Worcestershire Rapids to a place in the last eight by a single point.
Who’s in form?
Unsurprisingly, given the Covid-19 outbreak in their squad, Kent used a huge 25 players in the group stage. Daniel Bell-Drummond topped the run-scoring charts for the club, scoring 339 runs, including four half-centuries, in 11 appearances. Jordan Cox (300) and Zak Crawley (326) also passed 300 runs while Jack Leaning and Joe Denly chipped in with 287 and 199, respectively.
Fred Klaassen and Matt Milnes are Kent's leading wicket-takers, with 14 wickets each. However, they are the only Kent bowlers in double figures, with Darren Stevens' nine wickets placing him second on the list.
Sam Hain, Warwickshire's white-ball superstar, is the club's leading run-scorer in the Blast, scoring 393 runs at a strike rate of 140.35. Ed Pollock (245 runs) is the only other Bear to pass 50 more than once in a T20 match this season.
With the ball, overseas allrounder Carlos Brathwaite is Birmingham's leading wicket-taker with 18 to his name. However, there is no shortage of in-form bowlers in the squad, with Jake Lintott and Danny Briggs taking 15 wickets each and Craig Miles and Will Rhodes one behind on 14.
What’s the team news?
Sam Billings returns to captain the side. Adam Milne and Qais Ahmad are both available.
Kent Spitfires squad: Sam Billings, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Fred Klaassen, Jack Leaning, Adam Milne, Matt Milnes, Qais Ahmad, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart
Chris Woakes and Adam Hose are fit and available, while Jake Lintott, Danny Briggs, Chris Benjamin and Sam Hain return from Hundred duty.
Birmingham Bears squad: Will Rhodes, Chris Benjamin, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Ethan Brookes, Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Adam Hose, Matt Lamb, Jake Lintott, Craig Miles, Ed Pollock, Chris Woakes, Rob Yates
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Kent Spitfires: LWWWA
Birmingham Bears: WWLLW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 1
Kent Spitfires wins: 1
Birmingham Bears wins: 0
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 0
No result: 0
What’s the weather forecast?
Sunny skies are forecast over the Spitfire Ground, with temperatures expected to hover around the late teens.
Check out the Met Office's rolling forecast for Canterbury. Click here
Tickets
This match is sold out.
Travel
Address: St Lawrence, Old Dover Rd, Canterbury CT1 3NZ
By car: Park & Ride, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3EJ
This car park is situated a 10-15 minute walk or a short bus ride from the ground. The cost is £3.50 per day for a car and up to six passengers.
On matchdays, there is no one-off parking at the ground for spectators. However, there are limited disabled/blue badge parking spaces held in reserve at a daily rate of £15 per day. Parking is available in the ground on day four of the County Championship, subject to capacity.
By bus: The bus to and from town stops in front of the turnstiles on Old Dover Road. Alternatively, you can use the Park and Ride and Stagecoach services from New Dover Road, which will return you to the Park & Ride car park. Stagecoach buses 15, 16 and 17 will be available from 7.30pm until 11.30pm with a valid park & ride ticket.
By train: Canterbury East station is just one mile from the ground, whilst Canterbury West is slightly further at one and a half miles.
How do I follow the match?
This match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 6.55pm.
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
It's a tight one. Kent have been excellent all season but Birmingham Bears have a gluttony of in-form stars available. Home advantage might just be enough. Kent, but we're not confident.
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