Kent vs Sussex Preview – T20 Blast 2026 | Statz

24th May 2026

Kent host Sussex in the T20 Blast 2026 on Sunday 25 May (20:00 IST / 15:30 BST) in what promises to be a cracking south-east derby. Both sides won their opening fixtures and sit on 4 points – Kent 6th, Sussex 2nd.

Kent hammered Middlesex by 27 runs in round 1, posting 208/6 before restricting the hosts to 181/8. Sussex were even more emphatic, chasing down Essex’s 191/5 with four overs to spare – 192/4 in just 16 overs. Two teams full of confidence, then.

View the full Kent vs Sussex fixture page on Statz

Form and Table

Kent – Form: W L W W L

Date Opponent Result
22 May 2026 MID (A) Won – 208/6 vs 181/8
06 Sep 2025 LAN (A) Lost – 153 vs 156/7
18 Jul 2025 ESS (H) Won – 173/3 vs 172/6
13 Jul 2025 MID (H) Won – 165/3 vs 160/5
11 Jul 2025 SOM (H) Lost – 137/8 vs 138/5

Sussex – Form: W L W L L

Date Opponent Result
22 May 2026 ESS (A) Won – 192/4 vs 191/5
18 Jul 2025 SUR (H) Lost – 197/7 vs 204/5
17 Jul 2025 GLO (A) Won – 189/6 vs 185/5
13 Jul 2025 HAM (A) Lost – 167/7 vs 171/4
11 Jul 2025 ESS (A) Lost – 145 vs 148/4

Both teams sit on 4 points after one match apiece. Kent in 6th, Sussex in 2nd. Full team pages: Kent | Sussex.

Head-to-Head

These two have met 8 times since 2022 (Statz data), and Sussex lead 5-3. The last meeting on 9 July 2025 at County Ground, Hove was a thriller – Kent chased down Sussex’s 148 all out, reaching 151/8 with just 4 balls to spare. Before that, Sussex won by 34 runs at Canterbury (195/9 vs 161 all out). Sussex have the edge overall, but Kent showed they can get the job done when it matters.

Statz Projections

The model sees this as essentially a coin flip. Full projections here.

If Kent bat first

If Sussex bat first

Sussex are marginal favourites if they bat first (50.5%), but there’s barely anything in it. Projected first-innings totals hover around 166 either way, with a match total around 321-322. Not a run-fest on paper, but both sides showed they can go big in round 1.

Early Season Leaders

It’s very early days – just one round in – but here’s where things stand.

Predicted XIs

Kent

Tawanda Muyeye, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Zak Crawley, Sam Billings (C/WK), Joe Denly, Chris Benjamin, Joey Evison, Matt Milnes, Thomas Stewart Rogers, Frederick Klaassen, Jake Lintott

Based on the XI from 22 May vs Middlesex. Check the fixture page for any toss-time changes.

Sussex

Daniel Hughes, Tom Clark, James Coles, John Simpson (WK), Tom Alsop, Jack Leaning, Danny Lamb, Danny Briggs, Henry Crocombe, Tymal Mills (C), Bradley Currie

Based on the XI from 22 May vs Essex. Check the fixture page for any toss-time changes.

Dream11 Tips – Captain and Vice Captain

Picks based on projected Dream11 points for players in the most recent XI.

# Player Team Projected D11 Pts Key Projections
1 James Coles SUS 98.6 27.1 runs + 0.84 wkts, SR 156.5
2 Danny Briggs SUS 83.7 8.2 runs + 1.44 wkts, econ 7.6
3 Thomas Stewart Rogers KEN 82.0 8.3 runs + 1.3 wkts
4 Matt Milnes KEN 71.4 8.5 runs + 1.15 wkts
5 Tymal Mills SUS 67.2 5.0 runs + 1.12 wkts

Captain: James Coles (98.6 pts) – The 21-year-old all-rounder tops the projections by a distance. Scored 50 and took 2 wickets in round 1. Genuine bat-and-ball threat.

Vice Captain: Danny Briggs (83.7 pts) – Projected 1.44 wickets with a tidy 7.6 economy. Experienced left-arm spinner who can contribute with the bat too.

Key Players

Sam Billings (Kent)

England international who absolutely smashed round 1 – 84 runs, the highest individual score of the opening round. Projected 24.1 runs here. Captain and wicketkeeper, he’s the heartbeat of this Kent side. Billings’ Statz profile.

James Coles (Sussex)

Only 21 but already looking like Sussex’s most important player. Scored 50 and took 2 wickets on opening day. Projected 27.1 runs and 0.84 wickets – the highest Dream11 projection (98.6 points) in this fixture. A genuine match-winner with bat and ball. Coles’ Statz profile.

Thomas Stewart Rogers (Kent)

Four wickets against Middlesex gave him the best bowling figures of round 1. Projected 1.3 wickets here. A serious pace threat who can change games in a spell. Rogers’ Statz profile.

Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent)

Kent’s highest projected run-scorer at 32.3 runs with a strike rate of 143.0. Scored 26 in round 1 and will be looking to convert that into something bigger. A class act at the top of the order. Bell-Drummond’s Statz profile.

Conditions

Weather data is pending – check the fixture page closer to match day for updates.

Verdict and Betting Angles

This is a genuinely tight contest. The Statz model has Sussex as marginal 50.5% favourites when batting first, but it’s as close to a coin flip as you’ll get. Sussex lead the head-to-head 5-3, but Kent won the last meeting in a thriller at Hove.

The contrast in styles is fascinating. Kent’s batting was explosive in round 1 – 208/6 with Billings’ brilliant 84 leading the charge. Sussex’s chase ability is frightening – knocking off 192 in just 16 overs against Essex suggests they have serious firepower in their middle order.

Betting Angles

Sussex to win at 1.79 (Dafabet) – The head-to-head record (5-3) and marginal model edge make Sussex the slight lean. They chased like a side on a mission in round 1.

Sam Billings over 20.5 runs – Projected 24.1 runs and coming off 84 in round 1. In brilliant form and batting at the top of the order.

James Coles over 20.5 runs – Projected 27.1 runs, scored 50 in round 1. The all-rounder is in the form of his young career.

Thomas Stewart Rogers 1+ wickets – Projected 1.3 wickets after taking 4 in round 1. The pace bowler is a genuine wicket-taking threat.

Odds available at Dafabet (KEN 2.03 / SUS 1.79), Ladbrokes (KEN 2.00 / SUS 1.80), and Midnite (KEN 2.00 / SUS 1.73). Build your bets on Statz.

All projections and stats from Statz. Data correct at time of writing.