Group effort sees everyone chip in
Heino Kuhn has set his sights on silverware after leading Kent to their 22-run win over Essex in the T20 Blast on Friday evening.
The South African, who hit an unbeaten 55 and took an outstanding boundary catch, said after the win at Canterbury: “It’s a great feeling. It was a group effort again and it’s nice that it’s not the same guy every time making the runs and getting the wickets so I’m very chuffed.
“I feel like I have to score runs every game. There’s such a great line-up and guys sitting out which is brilliant. Every time I’m batting I feel like I have to score runs which is a good feeling and a good team thing.
“It’s nice that it worked for me today.”
On his plan heading into the final over, in which he hit five fours, he said: “To get every ball to get to the boundary really and to just find a way to get the ball there.
“Their mid-off was up and I just feel in our innings we tried to go too square because of the small boundary.
“I just said ‘listen, whatever I do just try and keep your shape and hit it as hard as you can’ and luckily it worked out.”
A standout shot during his innings came in the form of a perfectlytimed reverse hook for four, raising eyebrows around a sold out Spitfire Ground a week after being placed in concussion protocol having been struck on the neck by Hampshire’s Fidel Edwards.
“I definitely should practise that shot in the nets a bit more but it’s just instinctive,” admitted Kuhn.
“I can’t say I plan it, I wanted to reverse-sweep and pre-meditate it and then it was short so it just happened for me. There’s somebody upstairs that’s really looking out for me.
“I just want to do anything to get this team to a trophy so whatever I can do – scoring runs, taking catches – is great.
“I think we’ve got a great team, everybody is doing their bit so it’s a great feeling.”
Kuhn praised Kent’s thriving bowling attack, with Hardus Viljoen claiming another two wickets on the night and Mohammad Nabi, Adam Milne, Imran Qayyum and Fred Klaassen all picking up one apiece.
He explained. “It’s nice that we have two guys bowling quick (Viljoen and Milne) and then Nabi and Qayyum turning the ball nicely. It’s worked for us.
“Then guys like Fred who is just doing his job. He’s got his own technique of doing things and it’s just working for us.”
With dropped catches to rectify and runs still to be contributed, Kuhn insists Kent still have more to offer as they look ahead to a busy week. “Like we said in the changing room, we need to stay hungry. We’re still a long way away,” he said.