Wicket-keeper Sam Billings praised teammate Adam Riley after the spinner took nine wickets to help Kent to an eight-wicket win against Surrey.

22-year-old Billings has been preferred to the more experienced Geraint Jones behind the stumps so far this season, and completed three tidy stumpings off the bowling of Riley in this week’s victory.

The Pembury-born keeper has come through age-group cricket with Riley, also 22, and praised the off-spinner’s ability after an excellent start to the season. Having taken five wickets in his first Kent appearance of the season against Leicestershire, Riley recorded figures of 4-77 and 5-78 in his second against Surrey, giving him 23 First Class wickets – the third most in the country – at an average of just 20 so far in 2014.

“It was exceptional”, Billings said of his teammate’s performance.

“On a pitch that didn’t really offer him that much, he just bowled brilliantly. He’s got a nine-for twice this season already – he got it against Sussex [for Loughborough MCCU] as well.

“He’s just a proper, proper bowler. He just keeps on performing, and he doesn’t leak runs at the same time, so you can’t ask for much more.”

Billings paid tribute to all of the Kent bowlers, as they dismissed Surrey for 285 and 203 on a pitch that captain Rob Key actually described as “probably the best wicket I’ve played on at Canterbury for years”.

Key and Brendan Nash were both able to register their first centuries of the season in Kent’s first innings.

“As a bowling unit, it was exceptional”, Billings said, “on a pitch that was pretty good for batting, like the boys showed in the first innings.

“It was just a complete performance, but we can even get better than that, as well. That’s the positive thing to take forward.”

Billings also said that he was pleased with his own performance with both the gloves and the bat, and spoke about the importance of playing consistently.

“It’s like anything – batting, keeping, bowling – just having that consistency and getting your rhythm”, the wicket-keeper explained.

“I’m keeping more and more to the bowlers, as well – it’s a different kettle of fish keeping to 90mph consistently. My hands are bruised from Dougie [Bollinger] relentlessly slamming it in! It’s a great experience.

“I was pretty pleased with how I played. In hindsight, it was quite a key 30-odd, otherwise we could’ve been bowled out only 70 or 80 ahead.

“As long as I’m contributing to the team win, that’s the main thing, so I’m very happy.”

 

Pictures supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com