Joe Denly expects Kent Spitfires’ T20 Blast trip to Surrey to be a great occasion.

Having won their campaign-opening South Group game by seven wickets against Gloucestershire at Canterbury on Wednesday night, The Spitfires will look to make it two wins from two tonight (6.30pm) and have named an unchanged 13-strong squad.

On facing Surrey, Denly, 37, said: “It’s always a great occasion.

“I’m sure it’ll be a packed house for a local derby. We know Surrey are a very strong outfit so to get this win going into it is great.”

The match will be Surrey’s second T20 fixture of the year – after Curran brothers Sam and Tom guided them to victory last night against Middlesex at Lord’s - but it’s Surrey’s first in 2023 at The Kia Oval.

“I think it’s always nice playing at the bigger grounds, the Test-match grounds,” said Denly, whose big brother Sam is Whitstable CC captain where dad Nick is chairman.

“They always seem to sell it out. There’s always that bit of spice when it’s Surrey v Kent as well - as I’ve said before, they see us as a minor county.

“So it’s nice to get one over them.”

It’s now nearly five years since the batting all-rounder entered the record books at The Kia Oval in a T20 Blast match. He became the first man to take a hat-trick and score a ton in a professional game in the shortest format.

Denly, who wasn’t required to bowl his leg-spin against Gloucestershire, recalled: “That would be nice - I’d certainly take that! It was a little while ago now.

“Hopefully, I can get a chance with the ball and I always enjoy batting there. It’s a fantastic place to bat.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Denly was in the thick of the action in the field in Kent’s opener against Gloucestershire, as he ran-out Pakistani international Zafar Gohar.

“I’m patrolling the ring these days,” he noted. “It was nice to get a run-out and contribute in the field.

“I didn’t get a chance with the ball but I’m sure there will be opportunities going forward. Our fielding has always been key for us.

“We’ve always been a pretty good white-ball outfit in the field and the standards were pretty good on Wednesday.”

That run-out came amid a strong Spitfires fielding display which saw the visitors restricted to a measly 113 after fellow spinner Jack Leaning (2-23) opened the bowling to good effect.

“That’s the research that goes into it when we think about different match-ups,” he revealed.

“They’re left-hander-dominant in their top order and Jack bowls off-spin as well as anyone.

“It was a really positive move by us and, thankfully, it came off.”

Another to impress on his T20 Blast debut for Kent was 41-year-old Michael Hogan, who finished with figures of 3-13 from his three overs.

Denly, who was returning to the team after being dropped for their recent County Championship Division 1 clashes, said: “He’s been brilliant.

“Even in red ball, for his age, he keeps running in and is a real competitor.

“Obviously, he’s great around the group with his experience and everything.

“He’s an experienced white-ball player, as well, played in The Hundred last year and a really good asset for us.”

Australian overseas pace bowler Kane Richardson also got among the wickets, cleaning up the tail in successive deliveries, to finish with figures of 2-26 despite his first over going for 19.

“I’m sure it was nice to get off the mark for Kane and mop up the tail,” said Denly. “He’s only going to get better.”

That left Matt Walker’s troops with a straightforward chase and an unbroken 45-run stand between Denly (35 not out) and a 17-ball 38 not out from Jordan Cox saw them over the line in the 14th over.

Denly was thrilled Kent did the job in style.

He said: “I think Coxy quite easily could have worked it around and seen us home comfortably.

“But we want to play a really positive brand of cricket.

“He certainly came out and showed what a powerful player in our middle-order he is and got the job done relatively quickly.”

The Surrey match falls on Kent Day and The Spitfires have encouraged fans travelling to the capital to take a Kent flag with them to the clash.

Kent squad: Billings, Bhuiyan, Bell-Drummond, Blake, Cox, Denly, Evison, Hogan, Leaning, Linde, Muyeye, Richardson, Stewart.