Fancy dress, a few pints and some big hitting were the order of the day at T20 finals day at The Rose Bowl where Kent fans revelled in the sunshine and the performance of the Spitfires.

There were clowns, Vikings and '118-118-style' marathon runners dotted around a 20,000 sell-out crowd as well as hundreds of Kent fans proudly sporting their Spitfires one-day shirts as they waited for the final to get under way.

Kent member John Coglen from Esher in Surrey said: "Getting here on the park and ride was a 'doddle' and facilities at the ground have been fantastic.

"My wife thinks the ladies toilet facilities might have been better, but other than that we've no complaints.

"I was amazed at Edgbaston last year that we went on to win it, that was a dream and I'm crossing my fingers that we might do the same today.

"Our performance in the semi-final was a shaky in places but they showed good skills to win it in the end.

"I was living the dream after that start from Key and Denly, that was truly incredible, but then a few cracks appeared.

"Luckily we bat right the way down the order and everybody contributed.

"It was disappointing that everybody started and then got out, several of them left shaking their heads suggesting they felt they'd got themselves out, but in the end 173-3 was just enough."

Darren Lee from Sheppey said: "The weather's been great and the Kent v Essex game was a real nail-biter.

"I thought we would lose it to be honest but as usual the bowlers battled back and it ended up being a good win.

"Middlesex won the first seven of their 10 Twenty20 qualifiers so we know they would be a good side, but the crucial thing will be the spin bowlers and whether 'Tredders'can live up to their guys."

He added: "We had some really great banter with the Essex guys all around us, there was no segregation as such, and that's meant every one has mixed in and made it a fantastic day."

Mr Jim Sly from Otford, a lifelong Kent supporter enjoyed Spitfires' on-field performance but was hardly raving over facilities at The Rose Bowl.

He said: "It was a nervy performance against Essex and at one point there I was worried we weren't going to do it.

"Denly and 'Keysie' gave us a great start but then we gave away silly wickets and I worried we might not get enough, but they bowled and fielded well afterwards and it was quite a comfortable win in the end."

Mr Sly added: "It's the first time I've ever been to a match on the park and ride bus, it's convenient but it's no where near as good as parking near the ground in your own car and God knows what it'll be like later tonight after the final's finished.

"A lot of people will stay to the end and I fear it may be an hour before you get put of the ground.

"Fortunately the weather has been fantastic today because had it rained everyone would have got very wet indeed because from that I can see there's little or no cover.

"I much preferred the experience at Edgbaston last year and rather they played these finals days at proper Test venues."

Paul Brown, also from Sheppey and known to his mates as 'Bruno' said: "It's been really enjoyable and we even watched the mascots' race in the hope that Bomber the Spitfire could win the title again.

"There's been no problem getting food and drink and getting into the ground was really easy. We parked the car up, waited 10 minutes for a bus and before you knew it we were in. We hope it's the same going out again later."

---

Click here for more Twenty20 coverage on our Kent Cricket website

---