Alex Blake is looking forward to the return of the “real” Kent Spitfires when they take on Hampshire in the NatWest T20 Blast at Canterbury on Friday night.

The 26-year-old says Kent fans did not see the best of their side in their South Group defeat to Gloucestershire at Beckenham on Friday but says they are focused on bouncing back to strengthen their grip on top spot in the testing group and edge closer to a quarter-final place.

Blake said: “We didn’t do too well on Friday, which is a bit of a knock-back but you saw the week before when we got beaten quite convincingly by Middlesex that we bounced back pretty well then, so that will be the plan again.

“We are four wins from six, so if we get another couple of wins we should be well on our way to qualifying.

“We are pretty confident and if we keep playing like we have done and Sam Northeast keeps playing like he has, with the likes of Darren Stevens and Sam Billings to come off, I think we’ll do well.”

Blake said the team who capitulated against Middlesex and Gloucestershire were not the “real Kent” and he added: “Hopefully, we can post 200 in most games if we bat to our potential.

“We’ve seen the bowlers have done a good job so far. It’s disappointing not to have David Griffiths fit at the minute – he’s been successful for us in T20 – but Mitch Claydon is doing a fantastic job at the back end, as are the guys in the middle, the likes of Fabian Cowdrey, Adam Riley, Stevo and Matt Coles.”

He added: “I don’t think it was a case of thinking we just had to turn up to win. Gloucester are not a team to be underestimated, especially with the likes of Michael Klinger, who has done well for them in the way that Chris Gayle has for Somerset.

“You look across all the teams in the South Group and anyone can beat anyone. You look at Essex down the bottom at the minute and they’re probably one of the better sides in it.”