Kent bowler Ivan Thomas was delighted with his T20 debut even if it did mean he didn’t get any sleep the night before.

The Spitfires seamer was drafted into the side for Thursday night’s televised game against the Essex Eagles at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury and impressed in front of the Sky audience by taking 1 for 22 in his four overs.

Having been given the nod by Kent’s captain Sam Northeast on Wednesday, Thomas spent a sleepless night thinking about what lay ahead of him, making his debut in front of thousands packed into the ground and those watching around the world.

He needn’t have worried though as the 23 year old put in an impressive performance to stem the Essex Eagles tide and bagged the precious wicket of New Zealander Jesse Ryder.

After seeing his side chase down the 174 needed to win, Thomas was thrilled to have played his part in the Spitfires recording a six wicket win over rivals Essex:

“It was amazing. It was everything I had dreamed of for making my T20 debut. It was my first Sky game, so it was good to put a performance in.”

“I didn’t sleep all night and then facing Jesse Ryder, it was nice to get that wicket as he smashed me all over the place in the four day game earlier in the year.”

“He nearly hit my mum that day, so it was nice to get one back! It bounced off the wall and almost hit her head, but that’s what happens as she wasn’t watching!”

“This was a huge win and we probably came into the game as underdogs and that probably helped us. We put in a great bowling performance and then Sam Northeast and Daniel Bell-Drummond did so well with the bat.”

“I should probably have had a hair cut with the cameras being at the game, but that didn’t quite happen!”

Thomas was a surprise inclusion in the Natwest T20 Blast side for some watching on, but recent performances have helped him and the seamer explained how a couple of 2nd XI games helped the side and himself out:

“We went down to Gloucestershire earlier in the week to play their 2nd XI in a couple of T20 games and that proved crucial. A few of the batters got a good hit and I myself got a bowl.”

“It was good to get a good feeling of Twenty 20 and the extra day off was nice, especially for the likes of Matt Coles and Mitch Claydon who have been bowling a lot.”

It doesn’t come much harder for the Kent Spitfires on Friday night as they head to The Oval to take on Surrey, but Thomas is relishing the chance of impressing again if selected:

“Hopefully after this performance I get a go, but I have heard a lot about the atmosphere there.”

“I don’t think I am going to get an awful lot of sleep over these next few days, so hopefully some Red Bull will see me through!”

“I have seen the boys play there a few times and it looks an incredible experience and it’s the reason everyone plays cricket, for those sorts of games.”

“Surrey are doing well, they have lost a couple of their players, but I think we could be in with a chance.”