NORTHEAST: WE FEEL WE CAN BEAT ANYBODY

‘There is a good vibe around the place’

with the intriguing prospect of the sides meeting at Canterbury on September 20 in the final game of the season.

Northeast admitted: “We have won back-to-back games and want to keep that momentum going.

“The last two games have been the blueprint. We’ve batted big and the bowlers have done well on pitches which have not offered them a lot.

“Of course, if you offered it, we’d take having to win our last game against them to go up but there is no point looking too far ahead.”

He added: “There is a good vibe around the place, confidence is high, everyone is in good shape, including the twos. We have hit our straps at the right time.

“Essex have the points on the board but we have three games to play and still have to play them. There is a lot of cricket still to come this season. We genuinely feel like we can beat anyone.

“After the quarter-final loss in the One-day Cup too, the guys don’t want nothing to show for the season.”

While Kent thrashed Worcestershire last month, Northeast is hopeful his side can benefit from a favour from the club against whom their opening match of the season was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

He said: “You’d like to think teams have something to play for and will be fielding strong sides at this stage of the season.”

Depending on this week’s results, Kent could claim top spot when they host Northamptonshire at Beckenham in their penultimate match from Tuesday (September 6, 11am) as Essex do not return to action until the following week at home to Glamorgan.

Kent will, however, have to do without Sam Billings who was named in England’s 14-man squad for a one-off T20I against Pakistan at Old Trafford this Wednesday. Kent have extended Will Gidman’s loan from Notts until the end of the season.