KENT CRICKET

Joe Denly believes the result of Saturday’s Royal London One-Day Cup final will come down to who handles the pressure the best.

Kent face Hampshire at Lord’s as the counties go head to head again but on this occasion with the prize of being crowned winners of the 50-over competition.

In the group stages, Kent beat their opponents by a single run after successfully defending six from the final two overs.

Denly said: “It’s who can handle the pressure the best.

“Both teams are there for a reason and they’ve been playing some good cricket and had some good wins.

“There’s the pressure of a final and the occasion of being at Lord’s. It’s about playing your best cricket under that pressure.

“Being able to deal with those pressures and get across the line when you are dead and buried can only breed confidence and you can almost look back on those experiences when you are in tough situations.”

The 32-year-old hit a club record 150 not out in the earlier stages of the competition and averages 80.

He has enjoyed a particularly fruitful time with the bat over the last few seasons in all formats of the game that has seen his reputation grow around the world.

Denly said: “The biggest part of my success of the last couple of years has been just to enjoy it. Having a family has probably helped that and put things in perspective.

“That fear of failure has gone a little bit. I don’t have to put too much pressure on myself for England or international recognition.

“For me, it’s all about playing cricket for Kent, enjoying it, scoring as many runs and win as many games as I can.”

Denly was also part of the Kent team that lost in the final to Essex in 2008 but could only make 11 opening the batting.

He added: “To get there again with Kent to another final will be another memorable day.

“We’ve been there before against Essex all those years ago. It’s not quite as memorable as I would have liked it to have been.

“There’s a big difference getting to a final and losing. It takes the edge off it a bit.

“We are desperate to get there on Saturday and put in a good performance and carry on the good cricket and get a win.

“Back then we had a full team of very, very good individuals. A lot of international experience within that team.

“Where we are different now is that we are a good mix of young of old.

“Not a great deal of international experience but quite a lot of first-class experience.”