Harry Finch hopes a Kent Spitfires win in their final Metro Bank One-Day Cup game this campaign can provide a platform for a strong season run-in.

Kent will finish the 50-over cup competition campaign against Northants Steelbacks at Canterbury today, knowing they cannot qualify for the knockout stages after last Sunday’s seven-run defeat to Durham.

County Championship Division 1 basement boys Kent then return to red-ball action against Worcestershire from next Thursday as they aim to avoid relegation and salvage something from a disappointing year across all three formats.

“It’s been a bit of a tough middle period of the season for us, collectively, in all formats,” said wicketkeeper-batsman Finch. “Winning just creates momentum.

“I think we have played really well in this competition in pretty much every game - we haven’t got smashed - and every game that we have lost has been really close.

“We have actually started to play some really good cricket. For us, we’ll do a professional job and try to win but, also, try to take that into the four-day stuff. We have a massive five games coming.

“Even winning the last T20 game, we took some confidence from that into this format and it helped ensure we win more games. It’ll be the same, going back into the four-day stuff.

“I think it’s meant to be quite hot again so, hopefully, it’ll be good fun.”

Kent are set to return to action at Canterbury for the second successive game after a high-scoring game against Durham, in which spin proved key.

Teenager Jaydn Denly (3-15) and Marcus O’Riordan (3-36) were the pick of their bowlers after Spitfires skipper Jack Leaning had bowled himself.

The 29-year-old said: “Jack bowled the first over of spin and it definitely started spinning from that point.

“I think we had 10 bowling options - so we definitely weren’t short on bowlers! Sunday was a spinner’s day.

“Jaydn bowled brilliantly at the end with his three wickets in two overs.

“A special mention to Marcus. He’s probably not been used as much as he would have liked but bowled brilliantly - as did Parky (Matt Parkinson) and Jack.”

Australian overseas bowler Charlie Stobo sustained a broken finger after the toss last time out against Durham - he was able to bowl but batted down the order due to the pain from the injury sustained in the warm-up.

He will be treated by the club’s physios as they assess his fitness going into the Worcestershire game.

Kent squad: Leaning, Denly, Evison, Finch, Garrett, Gilchrist, O’Riordan, Parkinson, Qadri, E.Singh, J.Singh, Stewart, Swanepoel.