Somerset v Kent

KENT'S middle order batsman Darren Stevens is hoping that his maiden championship century of the summer against Hampshire will help kick-start his one-day form -starting with Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy trip to play Somerset in Taunton.

Up until Friday the ex-Leicestershire player had struggled for runs in both forms of the game despite having filled his boots in Kent's pre-season friendly matches.

His form finally came good against Hampshire, however with a 229-minute stay for 105 runs that flew in the f ace of his usual ultra-attacking style.

Stevens said: "If I'd have got out early on in Friday's play then the side might have been on the back foot, even if I'd only scored 50 then we might have been in trouble, but me getting to three figures kept them out there that little bit longer, got us into a much better position and made sure the Hampshire boys got that little bit frustrated, because Shane Warne obviously wanted to get on with the game."

In his five trophy innings to date Stevens has scored just one half-century in an aggregate of 90 runs. His average, which lies at a disappointing 18, can seemingly only go one way.

Stevens added: "The one-day form has been a bit disappointing for me, especially after scoring 140 in a one-day pre-season friendly up in Northamptonshire.

He added:"As the season's gone on it's been frustrating for me but we'll hopefully be on a good pitch at Taunton and we're hoping the weather will stay away and that we can get a result."

Kent will select for an unchanged squad for what will be their sixth of nine qualifying games.

Kent from: Key, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Hall, Jones, Arafat, McLaren, Tredwell, Cook, Dexter.