Kent vs Essex predictions: Visitors can show off batting power in Canterbury
- Kent have hit fewer sixes than their opponents in all five of this season's T20 Blast matches
- Australia international Daniel Sams has taken 11 wickets in five T20 games for Essex
- Recommended bet: Essex to hit Most Match Sixes
Kent have had a difficult start to their T20 Blast South Group campaign, losing four of their first five matches including their last two home games at Canterbury.
They were bowled out for 112 in a rain-reduced clash with Somerset before losing a final-ball thriller to Surrey, either side of a thumping away defeat to Glamorgan, who chased down a target of 190 with three overs to spare.
Essex were hammered by holders Hampshire in their first fixture of the month but eased to a five-wicket home win over Sussex on Tuesday and should enjoy their crack at Kent's struggling bowling attack.
Kent vs Essex (Wednesday, 6.30pm)
Team news
Kent left-armer Fred Klaassen is back in the squad but Australian paceman Wes Agar is unlikely to feature with George Linde and Kane Richardson set to fill the two overseas spots.
England opener Zak Crawley is unavailable as he prepares for next week's first Ashes Test.
Dan Lawrence returned from England Test duty to play in Essex's victory against Sussex on Tuesday. Feroze Khushi is another option to open the batting for the Eagles.
The stats
Kent have lost four of their five T20 Blast matches this season
Surrey's Sean Abbott scored a 34-ball century, the fourth-fastest in T20 history, against Kent last month
Kent have hit fewer sixes than their opponents in all five South Group games this summer
Essex won both of last season's T20 meetings with Kent, by four wickets and seven wickets
Michael Pepper has top-scored for Essex in both of his Blast appearances this season
Australia international Daniel Sams has taken 11 wickets in five T20 games for Essex
Prediction
Essex travel to Kent in pursuit of back-to-back victories after Tuesday's convincing win over Sussex and the visitors should be backed to hit more sixes than their hosts at Canterbury.
Kent have some dangerous T20 batsmen in their squad, including captain Sam Billings, Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning, but they have been overpowered in the six-hitting department this summer.
Surrey's Sean Abbott cleared the ropes 11 times in his stunning century against the Spitfires at The Oval last month and Jamie Smith sealed Surrey's victory in the return fixture last time out, hitting four sixes in an unbeaten 49.
While Kent's bowlers have struggled in the Blast, Essex have a classy, well-balanced attack including ace spinner Simon Harmer, in-form Australia international Sams and Sam Cook, who took 4-20 against Sussex on Tuesday, so they should trouble the Kent batsmen.
