KENT'S director of cricket Graham Ford has made a last ditch effort to bring overseas player Andrew Hall to the county in time for Tuesday's Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Trophy match against Derbyshire.

Ford has made an approach to the South African Cricket Board appealing for the early release of Hall, who was due to join up with Kent two days later on May 19.

All-rounder Hall has remained pretty much inactive during South Africa’s tour of the West Indies, but early indications from the Caribbean are that Kent will not get their man in time to take on the Phantoms in the round two tie.

Kent's players will enjoy a rare Sunday off before preparing to do battle with Derbyshire.

Tuesday’s match, which starts at 10.45am, will be the second time in a month the sides have clashed at the Old Racecourse Ground in Derby following their rain ruined totesport League encounter there on April 17.

It will be the fourth time the counties have clashed in the history of the competition, but this will be the first time they will have played with a white ball and in coloured kits following this year’s regulation changes.

Derbyshire hold a 2-1 lead in wins, but Kent will be buoyed by encouraging displays against the east midlands county, not just in last month’s totesport League encounter, but also in a two-day pre-season friendly when Kent largely controlled proceedings.

Kent from: Jones, Key, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Fulton, Stevens, Carberry, Ferley, Khan, Saggers, Cook, Dennington, (Hall).