SPITFIRES may struggle to defend their total despite scoring 226 for eight against Gloucestershire on their postage stamp out-ground at Cheltenham College.

Ed Smith again top-scored for Kent in this totesport League clash, but in the face of three spinners and on a dry pitch, Kent may yet well rue not scoring more runs.

In near ideal conditions for batting Kent elected to bat first and, after a promising start looked set for a 270-plus score until their innings fell away half way through their allotment of 45 overs.

The visitors lost pinch-hitting opener James Tredwell in the fourth over to a good diving catch by Jack Russell’s ebullient replacement Steve Adshead.

After s short stint of pressure by Jonathan Lewis and James Averis, Alex Loudon (9) needlessly gave up his own wicket by advancing to Averis to lift a drive to Ian Fisher at extra cover.

Smith and Bevan then came together for an excellent stand of 91 in 18 overs, a partnership marked by exquisite placement and off-side driving.

On his totesport debut Bevan batted for just an hour, threading five fours through a packed cover field until, in backing away to Ian Fisher, he lost off stump when attempting a wristy steer through backward point.

In Fisher’s next over and with his score on 70 from 82-balls, Smith drove firm and hard only to see the left-arm spinner pull off a sharp, low return catch.

Smith stood his ground waiting for the officials to confirm it had carries, but had to go after hitting nine fours in this his sixth 50 in seven one-day innings.

Even so, Kent had committed the cardinal sin of one-day cricket by losing two well-set batsmen in the space of three overs.

As a result, fifth wicket pair Matthew Walker and David Fulton took time to bed in and the run rate dropped accordingly.

In a desperate bid to up the tempo, Walker took on the occasional spin of Chris Taylor and the short leg-side boundary only to pick out Craig Spearman at deep mid-wicket and go for 18.

Fulton improvised well to pick out the gaps, late glancing at Taylor and lofting over mid-wicket, he finally perished for 29 trying a ‘Mal Loye copyright’ sweep off medium-pacer James Averis.

There was some late flourish from Rob Ferley and three useful boundaries from Matt Dennington in his unbeaten 26, but Kent left the field thinking they might have posted many more.