Adam Ball revealed he tried his best to get out of the university exam which kept him from following-up Monday’s match-winning turn against Warwickshire in Wednesday's game at Nottinghamshire Outlaws, but is in the Spitfires squad for today's trip to the Netherlands.

Kent newest death-bowler notched his highest one-day score for Kent, rattling five fours in his 28 from 22 balls, to help give the Spitfires a total which they were able to defend thanks in part to his stingy four overs with the ball, including the decisive final over.

The 20-year-old left-arm quick was handed the responsibility by skipper James Tredwell and with the Bears needing five from the last over, he allowed just two singles and a leg bye before breaking the stumps for a run out from the final ball to secure victory.

Ball - who made his Spitfires debut in a win at Durham in September 2010 - said: “I was very surprised to be the death bowler but for me it was really a no-lose situation.

“If they’d got the five people would have thought it was inevitable, but if they hadn’t then I would be the hero.

“It was a great day, games like this are the reason why we play the game, though I was pretty annoyed with myself that having made a start I couldn’t kick-on and make 60 or 70 not out.

“Getting out as I did, chipping back a full-toss, was disappointing, but it was something that I’ll learn from.”

There was more learning in store for Ball who had to miss Wednesday’s trip to Nottinghamshire as he had a sports science exam.

The University of Kent student had a ‘Special Populations’ paper at the Medway campus as he completes his second of three years.

He said: “I tried to get out of it but the reason to miss it wouldn’t be a valid one which means if I were to re-sit in August it would only be marked at 40%.”

Ball flew to Holland with the rest of the squad from Luton airport on Thursday evening.