Kent vs Sussex Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 2026
Match summary
Kent won by 7 wickets: Kent 199/3 (18.2 ov), Sussex 197/6 (20 ov).
Kent and Sussex both start 2026 with wins and meet at Canterbury. Form, probable XIs, pitch report and our prediction for the 17th match.
Match details
| Match | Kent vs Sussex, 17th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | T20 Blast 2026 |
| Date | 25 May 2026 |
| Venue | St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury |
| Status | Result |
| Result | Kent won by 7 wickets |
| Our pick | Sussex ✗ |
| Toss pick | Kent |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Kent and Sussex meet at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury in the 17th match of the T20 Blast 2026, each looking to extend a winning start. Reported dates for this fixture differ, so the date, time and weather are not stated here.
Sam Billings’ Kent opened with a 27-run win over Middlesex, defending a strong total with disciplined bowling. Billings made 84, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Tawanda Muyeye gave a solid start, and Zak Crawley and Joe Denly bolster the middle order. Tom Rogers took four wickets and leads the attack with Fred Klaassen, while Matt Milnes and Denly want to tighten up after an expensive middle-overs spell. Kent have not done well against Sussex recently.
Tymal Mills’ Sussex beat Essex by six wickets, chasing a challenging target with ease, and hold a good record against Kent. Daniel Hughes started aggressively, John Simpson hit a quick 63, and James Coles, Tom Alsop, Jack Leaning and Danny Lamb add depth. Mills conceded just 6.75 an over in that game and leads the bowling with Brad Currie, with Henry Crocombe and Danny Briggs aiming for tighter spells.
With a slight edge in recent results, Sussex are our choice.
St Lawrence is typically balanced, with something for both batters and bowlers. Seamers can get movement in the air and off the pitch, particularly with cloud or moisture, though batters find the ball coming on well once settled and the outfield is quick. Spin has a limited role. A competitive T20 total is usually 160–180, and teams often prefer to chase under lights.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–180 | 199/3 (18.2 ov) |
| Second innings | 155–175 | 197/6 (20 ov) |
Sussex
Sussex have a good record against Kent and beat Essex by six wickets in their opener, while Kent’s recent record against Sussex has been poor.
Toss pick: Kent
FAQ
Who is favoured in Kent vs Sussex?
Our preview leans to Sussex because of their record against Kent and their good start.
How did the two sides begin their seasons?
Kent beat Middlesex by 27 runs, and Sussex beat Essex by six wickets while chasing.
What is a par score at Canterbury?
Around 170 is competitive, with our expected first-innings range at 165–180.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Kent
- Sam Billingsc, wk
- Tawanda Muyeye
- Daniel Bell-Drummond
- Zak Crawley
- Joe Denly
- Chris Benjamin
- Joey Evison
- Tom Rogers
- Jake Lintott
- Matt Milnes
- Fred Klaassen
Sussex
- Tymal Millsc
- Daniel Hughes
- Tom Clark
- James Coles
- John Simpsonwk
- Tom Alsop
- Jack Leaning
- Danny Lamb
- Danny Briggs
- Henry Crocombe
- Brad Currie