Hamid Qadri believes Kent team-mate Joey Evison is one of the best all-rounders in the County Championship.

Qadri put on a 117-run second-innings stand with Evison in their record-breaking County Championship Division 1 defeat to Surrey this week.

Evison, 21, only joined Kent last year, initially on loan for their successful Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, but has started a three-year deal this summer.

He played second fiddle to Qadri, though, scoring 42 while Qadri added 72 to help set Surrey a massive 501 to win. But it was an historic chase the visitors did with ease, winning by five wickets at Canterbury on Wednesday.

That came after Kent had been 41-5 on day one before Evison (58) and Australian overseas Wes Agar (51) supported Jordan Cox, who scored 133.

Qadri said: “Coxy has played for a long time and he’s been an important player for Kent.

“Joey is making his way up, as well. He’s one of the best all-rounders on the county circuit.

“Having players like that - young players who are hungry to score runs - I look up to that.

“So I try to learn as much as possible from Coxy, Joey and all the senior players.

“We all look up to each other and try to improve while doing as much as we can for the team.”

With the ball, Evison ended with 2-22 and 0-87 against Surrey.

On his second-innings knock, meanwhile, 22-year-old Qadri added: “I earned the right from Monday, just surviving the evening.

“Tuesday morning, I had a clear plan. I knew, if it was in my area, I was going to try and take it on.

“But there was a bit of smart cricket around that.

“Joey was excellent from the other end and we put on 100-odd, which was a great effort.”

Kent, skippered by Jack Leaning after Sam Billings was dropped following his poor form to date this year, had put themselves in a fantastic position against leaders and champions Surrey, only for all their hard work to be undone on the last day.

Surrey’s strong start to their chase on day three came amid Kent giving Jamie Smith, who made a 77-ball 114, a couple of lives - some of which came from off-spinner Qadri’s bowling.

But he said: “You’ve got to move forward, you can’t live in the past.

“We drop them as a team and we catch them as a team.”

Smith was eventually bowled by Indian overseas debutant Arshdeep Singh after he claimed 2-43 from 14.2 overs in the first innings.

Singh also dismissed Will Jacks for 19 in the second innings but unbeaten opener Dom Sibley (140 not out) and all-rounder Jordan Clark (26 not out) saw Surrey across the line.

“He’s a great addition to our squad,” noted Qadri of 24-year-old Singh.

“He’s very skillful with the ball.

“Having someone like that on your side always helps.”

Kent’s latest red-ball game came after they had ended a run of five T20 Blast losses with a six-wicket win over Hampshire Hawks last Friday.

Kent return to Blast action at Lord’s against Middlesex tonight. They visit Gloucestershire tomorrow and take on Sussex at Hove on Tuesday.

Kent have been allocated five England women’s international white-ball matches from 2025 to 2031 after host venues over that seven-year period were announced.

Kent’s 14-strong squad for the T20 Blast games against Middlesex and Gloucestershire: Billings (C), Bell-Drummond, Blake, Cox, Denly, Evison, Gilchrist, Hogan, Klaassen, Leaning, Linde, Muyeye, Richardson, Stewart.