Former Kent batsman Michael Carberry said his side were “very happy”, after his unbeaten 83 helped Hampshire Royals to a 62-run win against the Kent Spitfires, guaranteeing a home quarter final for the visitors.
Carberry’s knock helped the Royals to a total of 185-6 from their 20 overs, which the Spitfires rarely looked like threatening, eventually ending their reply on 123-9, with Darren Stevens (33) and Sam Billings (31) offering the only real resistance with a partnership of 60, before both falling in the space of three deliveries.
“It was good to get some runs”, Carberry said, speaking to KSN at the close of play. “It was quite an important game for us and we’re very happy now that we’re into the quarters [finals], and not only that but we’ve got a home draw.”
After starting brightly, including hitting four boundaries in the fourth over, Carberry slowed slightly towards the end of the innings. He said: “It wasn’t easy. It probably came on a little bit better with the newer ball. Obviously as the ball got softer and older it was a little bit harder to time but I think our game plan was pretty good through the mid-innings. We ran very well and I think we were very smart about how we placed the ball as well.”
The opener put together a partnership of 94 for the third wicket with South African batsman Neil McKenzie, who was run out for 45 from 35 balls. “Credit to Macca [Neil McKenzie] – he came in and played a fantastic knock in the middle.
“We’re a confident group, wherever we have to play. We back ourselves in this competition and we’ve played some good cricket and it’s about doing the basics right on the day, and at the moment we’re doing that well.”
With a home quarter-final and potentially the prospect of retaining the FLt20 crown they secured last year to look forward to, Carberry admitted that the side couldn’t look too far ahead just yet.
“At this stage you obviously don’t want to look too far ahead. We’ve still got to win the quarter finals to even think about Final’s Day, so I think at the moment, all preparation will be towards getting through the quarters and then onwards and upwards from there.”