Kent batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond said he was feeling in good form after his second Championship half-century in as many games.

20-year-old Bell-Drummond, who top-scored in Kent’s first innings against Leicestershire with 58 today, having made 61 at Worcestershire last week, has started the 2014 campaign in excellent form.

He is carrying his progress over from a successful winter, which saw him complete a pre-season that had included time in Australia, before making fifty in Abu Dhabi for the MCC. His off-season culminated with consecutive unbeaten centuries, first in a friendly against Essex, and then in the First Class game against Loughborough MCCU, where he made 103 – his highest First Class score.

“I’m feeling good at the minute”, Bell-Drummond said after day three against Leicestershire.

“It’s good to be getting the runs on the board – I want to carry on and make them three figures, but I really can’t complain with the start I’ve made so far.”

“I had a good winter in Australia, and went over to Abu Dhabi with the MCC and from then on it’s just really kicked on. I’m in brilliant form right now so I just hope I can keep it going for as long as possible.”

Bell-Drummond’s knocks so far this season have included plenty of patience, but the young batsman admitted that this was more down to the conditions than anything he was specifically trying to do.

“The more balls I can stay out there for, the more patient I might seem”, he said.

“I think the conditions sometimes dictate the way I score and the rate I score at. I haven’t made a conscious effort to be patient compared to last year, but I guess I’ve erred on the patient side this year but that’s due to conditions.

“I did find it pretty tough at times today – they bowled in some good areas and I wasn’t hitting the middle of the bat, but thankfully I stayed out there and as long as you stay there, you can hit some runs.”

Kent captain Rob Key declared Kent’s innings towards the end of day three, despite the fact they were still trailing by 64 runs at the time. He did so in an effort to force a result from a game that saw the entire first day washed out by rain.

“Keysy’s always going on about how to be positive, and I think he showed it there by trying to move the game forward, and trying to not make it be just a draw”, Bell-Drummond said.

“We’re still behind – they’re still 103 in front with only two wickets gone, but we’re just backing ourselves as much as we can to try and force a result.”

Following the declaration, Kent had eight overs in the field before the close, during which time overseas signing Doug Bollinger took two wickets in as many balls; steaming in from the Nackington Road End with some serious pace that troubled all the batsmen.

“He’s been serious for us this year”, Bell-Drummond said of his new teammate. “He’s a brilliant character in the changing room as well.

“I wouldn’t have liked to be the opening batsman or number three either out there coming into bat. He’s been brilliant for us and hopefully he can continue.”

“Like he showed this evening, he’s very hostile and quick but the two wickets he got were dead-on, perfect balls, which any batsman wouldn’t want to face. I think he’s shown his class already, and hopefully he can continue that.”

 

Pictures supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com.