Hampshire defeat does not end Kent's T20 ambitions, says Adam Ball (From This Is Local London)

Hampshire defeat does not end Kent's T20 ambitions, says Adam Ball

10:12am Monday 25th June 2012 in Sport By Jim Palmer

A QUARTER final place is still up for grabs insists Kent all-rounder Adam Ball after a mixed week in the Friends Life T20.

The Spitfires lost by three runs to Essex in Chelmsford on Wednesday, then beat Hampshire by the same margin in Southampton on Friday.

But the wheels came off again on yesterday in a return fixture against Hampshire, with Aussie Glenn Maxwell carrying the Royals to victory by six wickets with 10 balls to spare with a stonking 66 not out from 32 balls.

His innings included five fours and six sixes.

Kent are third out of six after five of their ten pool games in the competition and face Middlesex tomorrow night.

Nineteen-year-old Adam Ball, from Bexley, said: “I think we have got a massive chance of getting out of the group.

“We have had a half decent start. Obviously we are disappointed to lose today. But we back ourselves to beat every other team in this group.”

He added: “I think it is about doing the simple things well, executing our skills well – putting a score on the board and chasing well. If we can do that we'll be fine.”

Yesterday, Kent posted 135-6 in their 20 overs, on a difficult batting wicket.

After a slow start, impetus was added by Darren Stevens who top scored with a 44-ball 60 before holing out to Glenn Maxwell in the deep off the bowling of Chris Wood.

Royals captain Dimi Mascarenhas kept the score down from the start with 2-14 from his four overs, followed up by 2-10 from two overs by man of the match Glenn Maxwell.

Kent started brightly with the ball, restricting Hampshire to 59-4 after 11.1 overs.

Then Glenn Maxwell happened. Swinging hard, and often connecting, he took the game rapidly out of Kent's grasp.

By comparison, Sean Ervine, who came in before Maxwell, managed just 13 not out.

Ball, who took 2-27 in his four overs, said: “It was a fantastic knock from Maxwell. Fair play to him. He came out an put the game to us and played well.

“I think it was quite an impressive total, because it was a tough wicket to bat on as you could see from the start they got off to and the way we bowled up front.

“If that bloke hadn't had come in and played that innings, we would have backed ourselves to win the game.

“It is disappointing after winning a close game on Friday. It would have been good to carry on that momentum.”

Follow live updates from Jim on Twitter @JimNewsShopper.