10:46 PM IST & 6:16 PM Local Time: That's it! Kent were simply unstoppable in this run chase and completely outplayed Sussex with the bat. A dominant performance from the hosts as they sealed a comprehensive 7-wicket victory with 10 balls still remaining.
Earlier in the evening, Sussex won the toss and elected to bat first. The visitors got off to a sensational start with Tom Clark going absolutely berserk at the top of the order. He took the attack to the bowlers right from the outset, playing fearless cricket inside the Powerplay, while Daniel Hughes played the perfect supporting role at the other end. Sussex stormed to 92/0 at the end of 6 overs with the Kent bowlers under immense pressure.
However, Kent bounced back brilliantly after the field restrictions. The crucial opening stand of 98 runs was finally broken when Clark departed after a magnificent 79. From there on, Kent tightened the screws superbly and kept chipping away with regular wickets. Sussex managed only 105 runs after the Powerplay and lost six wickets in the process. Useful late cameos from Jack Leaning, who scored 30 and Danny Lamb, who remained unbeaten on 22, helped the visitors post a competitive 197/6 from their 20 overs. Dian Forrester was the standout performer with the ball for Kent, finishing with impressive figures of 3/25.
In reply, Kent made a strong start to the chase with both openers looking in excellent touch early on. Tawanda Muyeye and Daniel Bell-Drummond played some eye-catching strokes during the Powerplay and kept the required rate firmly under control. Muyeye played a brisk hand of 26 off just 16 balls before being dismissed in the fourth over. Kent reached 60/1 at the end of 6 overs with the contest nicely balanced at that stage. Daniel Bell-Drummond departed after the powerplay for 29 off 19 balls.
Sam Billings looked good during his short stay at the crease but could not convert his start, falling for 28 off 17 deliveries. The game, however, completely shifted in Kent’s favour when Zak Crawley (75* off 41) and Dian Forrester (35* off 18) came together in the middle. The duo stitched a sensational unbeaten partnership of 80 runs off just 35 balls and tore apart the Sussex bowling attack with fearless stroke play. Kent eventually cruised to the target with 10 balls to spare, sealing a dominant 7-wicket victory.