Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
NORTHEAST WANTS SIDE TO LEARN FROM DEFEATS
Sam Northeast says consistency is the key to get the Spitfires firing in Natwest T20 Blast.
The highs of eye-catching victories over Essex and Surrey have been followed by disappointing losses to Gloucestershire and the skipper hopes his side can learn the lessons and bounce back at Richmond today (Thursday, 5.30pm).
After seeing Kent slip to an eight-run defeat chasing just 139 at Canterbury on Tuesday, Northeast said: “I’d like to think the lads will really take ownership of their games before Thursday.
“It’s a time to look at yourself and your own performance and think of ways you can get better.
“There’s no criticism here, it’s just me saying right, let’s just try and get better, because we know when we’re good we’re very good. We just need to be a little more consistent.”
Northeast claimed he ‘misjudged the pitch’ at the Spitfire Ground after winning the toss and choosing to bat second and added: “We expected and asked for something a bit quicker with a bit of pace but it suited them down to a tee really.
“It wasn’t ideal. I’d have batted first if I knew that would be the outcome. Still, 138 you’d like to think you chase it down.
“It reminded me a bit of the Lancashire quarter-final in 2015 – a similar pitch, you have to work hard for your runs, it was not a free-flowing surface.
“We’ve just got to be better at manipulating the ball around the pitch and picking up the ones and twos and taking the odd risk here and there.
“No one really got a hold of the conditions out there but we have won two of four and we are very much in this competition. We need to kickon. There are plenty of games to come. We need to put this to one side and win at Richmond.
“I have no idea what to expect up there to be honest. We’ll take a lot of options and have a look at it and make a decision. We’ll hopefully get a pitch expert to come with us because I got this one completely wrong. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Northeast hopes Adam Milne will be fit after a thigh strain although Imran Qayyum has impressed in his two Blast appearances so far.
Northeast said: “He dealt with the pressure well. He’s a confident lad and knows his game well for a youngster.
“We’ve found one, he’s a good lad and constantly willing to learn.”