Billings left frustrated despite ton

Sam Billings was left frustrated after his spectacular unbeaten century proved in vain against Glamorgan on Sunday.

Billings smashed 106 not out from just 54 balls and shared a record stand of 170 with Joe Denly (104 not out) as Kent posted 290-3 in the Royal London One-day Cup clash at Canterbury.

But the Spitfires were edged out by three wickets with seven balls to go in a rainshortened game of 42 overs a side – thanks largely to Colin Ingram’s unbeaten 95 from 53 balls which included six sixes.

Billings admitted: “You’ve seen enough one-day cricket now to know that you’re never out of it as a chasing side, especially on a good wicket at a small ground like Canterbury.

“Of course, halfway we were happy with how we batted and the score we put on the board but it just takes one bloke and a couple of other guys to bat around.”

It was a first Royal London One Day Cup defeat but Kent have lost three of their five Natwest T20 Blast games, the latest at Hove.

Billings was dropped on 27 by Michael Hogan and the England man said: “I needed a bit of luck. It can get you on a roll – it’s amazing.

“It was a bit of fun, once you get into that flow... I can’t really explain it, you’re not really thinking, you’re just watching the ball and trying to hit it in the middle of the bat.”

Billings took just 17 balls to move from 50 to reach his century from the penultimate ball and he added: “It was pleasing but hopefully I can continue this form and put some scores on the board.

“I was happy with how I played. I got a bit of luck as they set some poor fields at times. I was on about 75 (when I first thought about the century). Joey and I were both going at that stage but luckily it panned out.”

On Friday, Kent lost by four wickets at Hove against Sussex in the Natwest T20 Blast – this after a eight-run win over Hampshire at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, two days earlier in the same competition.