Kent Spitfires bowler Fred Klaassen branded his heroic final over against Gloucestershire “the redemption over” after he defended 10 runs to help Kent win their third Vitality Blast game in a row on Sunday.

With Gloucestershire needing 10 to win and Benny Howell set and flying, Klaassen took two wickets with the first two balls of the over before conceding just four singles from the last four balls – which also featured a spectacular runout by wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson – to help see side over the line in Canterbury. 

The Dutchman had dropped set batsman Glenn Phillips, who went onto make 38, earlier on in the innings and saw his first two overs go for 25 runs, but he was delighted to fight back and contribute to another positive result for the home side.

“It was an absolute rollercoaster,” said Klaassen, speaking after the game. “It was a personal hurdle. We didn’t start well – it was up and down, I put a catch down and was down there on the boundary and had a long time to think about it.

“I was struggling a little bit, but I had a pretty clear plan and knew what to bowl. I backed myself and went for it. That first ball was on the money and to get a wicket first up and get a new batsman in straight away worked totally in my favour and the second one was a bit of a bonus.”

Klaassen was happy to see the back of Howell, who scored 44 runs from 23 balls. It was arguably the key moment of the Gloucestershire innings, and when Klaassen had him bowled with a brilliant in-swinging yorker off the first ball of the last over, the game swung back into Kent’s favour.

“He is a dangerous player,” said Klaassen, speaking on Howell. “I was definitely happy to see the back of him. 

“He hits the ball long – especially over that long on, cow area. I think last over I had to go at the stumps – he misses, I hit – and I managed to get it on target from a nice length as well, so it was good to take the poles.”

Klaassen also praised the mental strength of the Kent team, who had to come back from tough starts with both bat and ball in the game.

He said: “It shows a successful team. We didn’t play to our full potential at all, and we found a way to win. That’s what a champion side does.

“It shows the real resilience in our side at the moment. We didn’t start well with bat or ball, and that is two games in a row we have recovered with the bat and put on a defendable score. 

“With the ball we aren’t taking those early wickets – we weren’t far away again but if you can come away with a win when you don’t play to your full potential that is only a good thing.”

Kent will now take to the road to face Somerset and Glamorgan this week, before hosting Essex in Canterbury on Sunday.

Klaassen is enjoying the ride and insisted the momentum from winning the first three games of the tournament will help the team.

“We take momentum into our two away games,” he said. “It’s a shame to go away form fortress Canterbury, but hopefully we can keep that winning streak going.

“It is always tough going to Taunton. I think their crowd will make a good atmosphere and it can be intimidating, but we need to take the momentum we have from Canterbury, and I think it will be a good game and we can get a good win. 

“It can be a bowler’s graveyard – I haven’t played there for a couple of years now but my memories of it aren’t great. But I will look forward to it.

“If we get the win streak going, we will keep pushing for that Quarter Final spot.”

Picture supplied by Kent Cricket.