New Zealand pace man Adam Milne will again spearhead Kent's attack in this summer's Vitality Blast T20 competition.

The 26-year-old Kiwi international has been a key part of the club's 20-over team for the past two seasons and is returning for a third spell.

Milne was Kent's leading wicket taker in the competition during 2017 taking 15 wickets despite playing only seven games.

During that summer he also returned the county's best ever bowling figures in the competition, claiming 5-11 against Somerset at Taunton.

He followed up last season by picking up 13 wickets, conceding just 297 runs at an economy rate of 7.16 and a strike rate of just 19.15 as Kent reached the quarter-finals.

Milne was selected for both the Wisden and CricViz T20 team of year for 2018, with both praising his ability to “bowl in phases when batsmen are at their most aggressive but managing to maintain the holy grail of T20 bowling: a low economy rate and a low strike rate.”

The New Zealander has played 21 T20 internationals for New Zealand, taking 25 wickets with a strike rate of 17.40.

Milne will re-join Kent subject to regulatory approval, including an No Objections Certificate from New Zealand Cricket. He said: “I’m delighted to come back to Kent for the Vitality Blast in 2019.

“Last year we came close to reaching Vitality Blast finals day and there is a real belief in this squad that we can challenge again this season."

Kent Cricket’s Director of Cricket, Paul Downton, said: ‘Adam is an outstanding T20 bowler with the ability to take early wickets in the power play and to bowl vital overs at the death. He is a match winner.

“Securing him for a third successive season is testament to the how much the squad and supporters enjoy having him here and his passion for playing for Kent.”