Kent batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond has told KSN at his delight at scoring his highest ever List A score in the Royal London Cup win over Sussex Sharks.

The opening batsman hit a career best 83 as the Spitfires beat the Sharks by 59 runs on the Duckworth Lewis method in a rain interrupted game at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Wednesday night.

Bell-Drummond’s previous best score going into the game was 61 and he passed that with ease as he helped the side amass a defendable total of 299 in the sunshine and played a big part in the field as the Spitfires bowled the visitors out for just 183 as they chased 243 to win.

Now an integral part of the side in all forms of the game, Bell-Drummond is showing the Kent selectors why they have shown faith in him over recent years and he told KSN how he was pleased to have got a career best score, but was annoyed that he didn’t go on and get three figures:

“I’d have taken that at the start of the day, but was annoyed that I couldn’t carry on and get three figures. I found it tough at first and I really needed to concentrate.”

“I wasn’t feeling at my best and had to keep hitting the singles and keep the score ticking along. Both Ben Harmison and Fabian Cowdrey helped me a lot as they played a few shots and it allowed me to play the anchor role.”

“It was quite a slow deck, so it was easy in that sense and I was grateful I could get runs against a decent attack.”

Bell-Drummond cut Yasir Arafat to point to be dismissed on 83 at the start of the batting powerplay and the Kent batsman admitted the pressure of trying to score quicker can sometimes lead to losing your wicket:

“I saw the ball short and wide and just went for it. If it had been at the top of off stump I wouldn’t have got out. I saw it out there and my eyes lit up and I know now I should have kept it down.”

Bell-Drummond went on to praise the bowlers for doing such a great job in trying conditions:

“They did really, really well and took wickets when it mattered and stopped Sussex from really getting going.”

“Treddy bowled really well and having been playing for them in the Championship, they must be really annoyed about him coming to haunt them again.”

“He was world class and turned up just when we needed him to.”

The victory not only booked Kent’s spot in the Quarter Finals of the Royal London Cup, but has guaranteed them a home tie in the last eight and Bell-Drummond is delighted for the Kent fans:

“It’s great to be able to get a home Quarter Final in front of a Kent crowd. Whoever that is, we will feel confident about beating them as we are unbeaten at the moment and we want that to continue.”

On Friday, Kent switch their attention back to the County Championship campaign with their four day game against Hampshire at Canterbury and Bell-Drummond believes the side have a great chance of promotion this season:

“We have a couple of games in hand on other teams and it’s really starting to get really tight. We’ve got to play Hampshire twice and we know that two wins would be pushing us up there near the top of the table.”

“We’re hitting form at the right stage of the season and we were hot and cold at the start of the season. A few of the guys are coming into form at the right time and some of us younger guys have been given our opportunity and it’s about time we stand up and show what we can do.”

“Sam Billings is in the form of his life and that’s good for the club. I haven’t batted with him in this 50 over campaign, but watching on it has been unbelievable.”

“Some of his hitting has been incredible and his knocks at Taunton and The Oval were just remarkable. If he carries on as he is, we won’t be seeing much of him in Kent for much longer.”

With it being the 163rd Canterbury Week, fans will be in for a real treat at the home of Kent and if the past few weeks are anything to go by, Bell-Drummond and co could mean business this week.