Kent Spitfires (162-6) lost to Somerset (166-2) by eight wickets in T20 Blast

Kent Spitfires started their T20 Blast defence with a defeat against Somerset at Canterbury on Wednesday night.

Spitfires were beaten by eight wickets in what was a repeat of last summer's final, as - just like the four-day game so far this season - Kent found wickets hard to come by in the field.

Kent won the toss and opted to bat first but any hopes they had of putting a formidable total on the board were a distant memory as they were reduced to 33-4 in the eighth over.

Zak Crawley, who had spent the day with the England Test squad, drove back to Canterbury for six balls. He produced a lovely straight drive for four but departed when he found a leading edge to Roelof van der Merwe off Josh Davey (1-18).

Daniel Bell-Drummond went for 12, caught by Lewis Goldsworthy when trying to pull Lewis Gregory.

Skipper Sam Billings, making his first appearance of the summer after playing in the IPL, nicked Gregory behind for five and Joe Denly never looked fluent, bowled by a Ben Green delivery that kept awfully low for five from 16 balls.

Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning led the Kent recovery with a partnership of 52 in 43 balls but the former went tamely for 11, chipping Goldsworthy to short cover.

George Linde raised the Kent hundred when he smashed Goldsworthy for six over long-on in the 16th over, one of two maximums he scored in the over.

The next over saw Leaning reach his half-century, hitting a massive six beyond the flats - his third maximum in a 31-ball knock that also included two fours.

Linde and Leaning put on 46 in 22 balls before Linde slapped Gregory to Tom Lammonby at long-on for 29 in 15 balls, Spitfires were 131-6 with 17 balls remaining.

Grant Stewart wasted little time to get going, hitting two boundaries in the