Denly beats Kent skipper Billings in BBL

Kent’s Sam Billings, left, with team-mate Joe Denly

Kent’s Joe Denly got the better of his county captain Sam Billings in the Big Bash League on Monday.

The two Kent team-mates were on opposite sides in Australia’s BBL with Denly playing for Brisbane Heat and Billings turning out for Sydney Thunder during an entertaining clash.

Denly was stumped by Billings for 50 off the bowling of Tanveer Sangha but his halfcentury had already guided Heat to the verge of victory, which they duly completed by five wickets with five balls to spare. He hit four fours and two sixes, the maximums coming off Sangha, who had the last laugh when Denly missed one after advancing down the wicket.

Billings had earlier scored 22 for Thunder, before he was run out after coming down the wicket to drive spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, only for the bowler to throw the ball back to wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson before Billings got back into his ground.

Thunder had made 174-8 from their 20 overs but Heat reached 175-5. Another Kent player, overseas bowler Adam Milne, took 0-38 from his four overs for the Thunder.