Adam Ball celebrates the wicket of Zafar Ansari Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent Spitfires claimed their opening win of the Friends Life T20 after thrashing Surrey by eight wickets at Beckenham on Sunday with 22 balls to spare.

After losing their first game against Sussex to the weather on Tuesday, Kent made the perfect start to this season’s campaign when Mark Davies had Jason Roy caught by skipper Rob Key from the first ball of the match.

Surrey skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown had won the toss and decided to bat first but he must have had second thoughts when Matt Coles claimed his wicket to leave Surrey 13-2.

Adam Ball took the wickets of Tom Maynard and Matthew Spriegel, while Sam Billings ran out the dangerous Steven Davies for 31 from 27 balls.

Gary Wilson hit four boundaries and a six in his 53 not out from 43 balls to help guide Surrey to 116-7.

Azhar Mahmood took 2-12 at the death, while Davies bowled out for 1-17 at the start of the innings. Ball finished with 2-23 and James Tredwell an economical 0-18 from his four overs.

In reply, Spitfires were 24-0 after three overs but their progress was checked when Billings was trapped in front by Jade Dernbach for 18 and Mahmood made only six after coming in at No.3.

Darren Stevens and anchorman Key steadied the ship, although the scoring rate slowed down as spin bowling proved effective and Dernbach – who was released from the England one-day squad to play in the game – difficult to get away at times.

But after reaching 71-2 in 12 overs, Kent pressed the accelerator again and raced through to their victory target.

Key reached his half-century as Kent closed in on victory and the skipper finished unbeaten on 51 at the close.

Stevens finished the game with a six – his fourth of the innings – as he hit 43 from 25 balls and Spitfires 120-2 in 16.2 overs.