KENT’S newest hero Steve Waugh said he was overwhelmed by the reception he got as he led the Spitfires to a thrilling five-wicket win last night.

Waugh made a crucial 59 to guide the county to victory, with Paul Nixon adding a vital 33 to keep the Spitfires in the hunt to retain their Norwich Union League title in front of a packed house at St Lawrence.

Waugh admitted he was a bit stiff after his efforts but said he was delighted with the result. "It was a tough battle," he commented. "We knew we had to work hard and it was always going to be a close game with the score they put on the board.

“It was always going to be a hard fought victory if we were going to get it but it was a good opprtunity to score runs in a difficult situation. There was a good crowd, a big crowd. They were pretty quiet for most of the match but they really came alive in the last 10 overs.

“It wasn’t blessed with strokeplay, so it wasn’t going to be a fantastic match to watch, but it was always going to be close and in the last 10 they got really fired up.

“We had a few good partnerships in the game, Paul (Nixon) played well under pressure and played some crucial shots and it was the defining partnership of the chase.

“In the circumstances I was pretty happy with the 50 and a little bit overwhelmed with the support, but the job wasn’t done so I had to stick at it.

“There were a few nerves there before the game because as the overseas pro everybody expects you to do well but that’s good.”

He added: “It was a hard wicket to bat on. I don’t think Tendulkar would have made it look easy out there but we had to work hard and we had a bit of luck, which you need."

Elated Spitfires skipper Matthew Fleming was quick to lavish praise on his match-winner.

He said: “People have been saying that he is just coming over here to get practice. Well if that’s how he wants to get practice I’ll be very happy and he’ll get as much of it as he wants.

“That was his first innings, under lights in difficult conditions, in a tricky situation and that’s why we signed him. He was outstanding. That was a victory for guts and determination because it was very hard and he hasn’t played competitive cricket for a long time."