By Dave Bracegirdle

Sam Billings was Kent’s hero as the Spitfires pulled off a stunning run chase to defeat Notts Outlaws by five wickets at Trent Bridge.

The stunning win keeps alive Kent’s hopes in the Royal London One-Day Cup and it was Billings who took centre stage with 118 not out from 89 balls.

That included hitting 12 fours and three maximums to turn the tables on the previously unbeaten group leaders, who had set the Spitfires a target of 336 which was reached with eight overs to spare.

Billings shared in a match-winning sixth wicket stand of 133 with Alex Blake, who hit the winning six to close on an undefeated 50.

“It’s great to get us over the line,” admitted Billings afterwards.

“I’ve sort of hinted at getting that sort of score but then got us over the line, so to do it today is great.

“It was all set up by Fabian Cowdrey and Daniel Bell-Drummond, and then Alex Blake stuck around to help get us there.

“We knew that if we took it down into the last few overs we’d get close on a good wicket, with a shortish boundary on one side but I’m so pleased.

 “Every credit should go to the bowlers for what they did at the end.

“From where Notts were at they probably should have got over 350.”

Monday’s victory was the perfect response from the Spitfires after suffering a nerve-jangling last ball defeat in the T20 Blast quarter-finals at home to Lancashire.

Needing 143 for victory, half centuries from Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince and man-of-the-match Jos Buttler set up a dramatic finale in which the visitors needed six to win from the final over of the match bowled by Matt Coles.

In front of a 7,000 capacity Canterbury crowd, James Faulkener clubbed two from the final ball of the day to level the scores and with only six wickets down, ensure Lancashire’s qualification to the semi-finals.

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