Stevens vows to see Kent home next time
DARREN STEVENS apologised to his team-mates after getting out five overs before the end against Yorkshire and admitted: "I should have finished the job off."
The 35-year-old all-rounder put on 65 with Brendan Nash but he fell with just 17 runs required for a score of 59.
Honest Stevens was delighted with the "perfect start to the one-day season" but he shouldered the blame for not getting the team over the line sooner.
Kent eventually got home with four wickets and four balls to spare.
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He said: "It was a great, great performance from the boys. The young lads fielded really well and it was the perfect start which was really, really pleasing.
"We had a good chat the night before basically saying how we wanted to play our one-day cricket.
"Up to now it's all been four-day stuff so we wanted to lay down what we were going to do. We said 'this is how we're going to play it' and we did exactly that.
"I was disappointed with myself personally. To get out when I did wasn't in the script and I felt I put unnecessary pressure on a few of the boys lower down the order.
"I should have had it finished with four overs left and I said sorry because I know finishing it off is what you need to do in that position.
"We know Yorkshire very well and we were clear of the side we were going to come up against.
"We made good plans and stuck to them."
With elder statesmen like Rob Key, Brendan Nash and Geraint Jones guiding the bright young guns, Stevens believes Kent have the ideal team balance.
He said: "There's a few old 'uns and a few young ones which is perfect. You're always buzzing at the start of the season but I just thought we did everything right on Sunday.
"We've got a good mix of young lads, who are brilliant fielders, and the senior, more experienced players like myself.
"I thought the way we went about the whole job on Sunday was exactly right. Up front with the new ball Colesey (Matt Coles) was magnificent.
"He's come on leaps and bounds and his time with the England set-up in the winter has helped him massively, especially with his fitness.
"So far this season he's been absolutely outstanding with bat and ball. He scored a hundred in his first game and he didn't bowl too great in that one but since then he's been unstoppable.
"He showed how good he actually is with the ball in the second innings against Northants when he got a six-for.
"It was an awesome spell and his call-up to the England Lions team is thoroughly deserved."
Stevens has got through plenty of overs already this season but his body is standing up well.
He was even consistently faster than opening bowler Mark Davies according to the Sky Sports speed gun against Yorkshire.
Stevens joked: "Get in there! I've got plenty more in the tank when I start bending that back!"
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