Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Surrey v Kent Spitfires
Venue: The Kia Oval
Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
A top-of-the-table clash in the South Group: Kent have been the division's outstanding team despite their televised mauling against Tom Banton's Somerset. They have gone about their work relatively quietly but will be well aware that nothing has been accomplished yet. Were they to miss out on qualification, it would be far from the first time they had wilted at the back end of the group stage.
As for Surrey, they are just two points either side of leaders Kent and sixth-placed Essex in a highly competitive group, having played a game more than all but Glamorgan, who have also played 12, and Hampshire, who have a game in hand on the majority of the pack.
Who’s in form?
Kent have risen to the top of the tree without any of their batsmen dominating the charts in runs or wickets: Jordan Cox has 300 runs at 60, with Zak Crawley, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning all contributing at least 280 each as well. With the ball, they have been led by seamers Matt Milnes and Fred Klaassen, who have claimed 13 scalps apiece.
Surrey will be without Will Jacks, who has smashed 369 runs at a strike rate of 170.04 in this year's tournament. He is on international duty as part of England's emergency ODI squad.
What’s the team news?
Surrey have signed Tim David for the remainder of their Blast campaign, with their squad having been stripped of players for various reasons.
Will Jacks, Hashim Amla, Kyle Jamieson, Ollie Pope, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Jason Roy and Ben Foakes are all missing.
Surrey squad: Gareth Batty, Gus Atkinson, Rory Burns, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Tim David, Laurie Evans, Ben Geddes, Conor McKerr, Daniel Moriarty, Ryan Patel, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wk)
The Spitfires are without Sam Billings and now Zak Crawley after he was called up as cover amid England's Covid outbreak. Daniel Bell-Drummond will captain the side and there is a return for Tanada Muyeye.
Kent Spitfires squad: Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Jordan Cox, Joe Denly, Fred Klaassen, Jack Leaning, James Logan, Adam Milne, Matt Milnes, Tawanda Muyeye, Qais Ahmed, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Surrey: LWLNRW
Kent Spitfires: WALWL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 36
Surrey wins: 18
Kent Spitfires wins: 17
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 2
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
A small bout of afternoon rain will be replaced by cloud and a bit of sunshine in time for the start of play.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for The Kia Oval: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Due to restrictions on capacity, tickets for this fixture are only available to Surrey members.
Travel
Address: Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SS
By car: No match-day parking is available at, or in the vicinity of the ground, and we advise all customers to use public transport. We only offer parking to Blue Badge holders on a first come first serve basis.
The ground is situated on the A202, near the junction with the A3 and A24, just south of Vauxhall Bridge and 10-minutes from Victoria and Waterloo.
By train: Use South Western Railway trains into Vauxhall station, which is a 10-minute walk from the ground. The station is well served by trains throughout Surrey and Hampshire as well as from the Greater London area.
By underground: The Kia Oval is just a one-minute walk away from Oval underground station, which is situated in South London on the Northern line. It is on your left as you leave the main entrance of the station. The ground is also a 10-minute walk from Vauxhall which is situated on the Victoria line.
By bus: Route numbers 36, 185 and 436 stop outside the ground and other local services stop around the corner. The following buses pass within a 5-minute walk of the ground: 3, 59, 109, 133, 159, 333.
How do I follow the match?
All T20 Blast matches are 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?
The absences of Jason Roy, isolating, and Will Jacks, with England, might just give Kent the edge here.
OTHER T20 BLAST MATCH PREVIEWS, JULY 9
NORTH GROUP
Worcestershire v Birmingham Bears
Lancashire Lightning v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Notts Outlaws v Yorkshire Vikings
SOUTH GROUP
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