KENT have sealed the 11th hour signing of South African Twenty20 specialist Tyron Henderson to bolster their side ahead of Tuesday’s Cup opener against Essex in Beckenham.

The Durban-born all-rounder, who turns 32 this summer, is scheduled to land at Heathrow on Monday night as Kent’s overseas locum for Justin Kemp, who was recalled last week by the South African cricket board.

Though he has played for South Africa A and represented his county in the Hong Kong Sixes, Henderson is very much a Twenty20 specialist and was named Standard Bank Pro20 cricketer of the year in 2004-5.

A destructive right-handed batsman with a Pro20 strike-rate of 152 per 100 balls, he also bowls canny medium-pace at a good economy rate – indeed his return of two for eight from four overs are the most frugal figures in Pro20 history in South Africa.

Though a first-class cricketer for Border, he boasts a modest career-best of 81 in 67 four-day games, and it is in limited overs cricket where Henderson has won a reputation to match that of his big-hitting.

Arrival and fitness permitting he will be included in Kent’s squad to play the Eagles at Worsley Bridge Road at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

If Henderson proves a success his short-term contract with Kent could yet be extended.

Kent’s chief executive Paul Millman said: “He’s coming for Twenty20 initially with a view to seeing how he goes in that.

“Obviously our director of coaching Graham Ford has known him for some time and is quite sure of Henderson’s abilities in this form of the game.”

Kent from: Dexter, Stevens, Henderson, Hall, Tredwell, Key, Walker, van Jaarsveld, O’Brien, Patel, Cook, Khan, Denly.