Kent skipper Rob Key said the Spitfires are not far off being challengers in NatWest T20 Blast and has set his sights on a place in the knockout stages.

Wednesday night’s six-wicket defeat to Essex saw Kent slip to fourth in the South Group table, but they have the chance to bounce back against third-placed Glamorgan in Cardiff tonight (Friday).

Key said: “We’re not far away at all really. A few catches and we’re probably winning that Essex game.”

He added: “There are some good young players showing some good signs, but I hate saying that when you lose games, talking about positives when you really had every chance of winning the game, young side or not.”

“There are a lot of good sides in this division. Glamorgan have hitters and bowlers and you can never right anyone off. Nothing ever seems to be as close as a T20 game in the whole of sport.

“We’re playing well enough and we’ve got enough of a formula going to (reach the quarter-final stage). Hopefully we can continue, we have good back-up as well. We have decisions to make, horses for courses for every game.”

Key shared a record Kent T20 opening stand of 119 with Daniel Bell-Drummond on Wednesday but admitted the end of that partnership could have contributed to their overall defeat, though costly drops of match-winner Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate were the ultimate difference.

He said: “We were pretty good with that bat. I’m pleased for Deebs. I thought he really matured today. We both probably got out at just the wrong time. I get a 90 or 100 there and we’re well over 200.

“I think 190 was a good score, well above the average here but Ravi Bopara played very well.

"He’s a good player in good form as we’ve seen all week. It’s very hard to stop people like that when they’re going. When they give you a chance you have to take it.”

“You take those chances and it’s probably a different scenario.”