Counties 'settling into Twenty20'

FRIDAY'S MATCHES Derbyshire v Leics, Derby Essex v Kent, Chelmsford Gloucs v Glamorgan, Bristol Hampshire v Sussex, Rose Bowl Northants v Warwicks, N'pton Notts v Lancashire, Trent Bridge Listen live on BBC local radio and this website

Kent captain David Fulton believes the spate of Twenty20 record-breaking is down to teams only now getting used to the shortest form of the game.

In 11 matches so far this year, new marks have been set for the highest team score, the best bowling figures - twice - and the most expensive bowling.

"A lot of it depends on the playing surfaces - we played Surrey on a good pitch at Beckenham," said Fulton.

"But people are understanding the game more now and finding patterns."

Northants, who smashed their way to a record 224-5 against Gloucestershire at Milton Keynes on Wednesday, are one of four teams to have passed the 200 mark already this year.

The Steelbacks are also doing well in conventional one-day cricket in the 45-over Totesport League.

But success in that form of the game does not necessarily translate into Twenty20 success.

"Surrey are struggling in the Totesport League but they have swept all before them in Twenty20," Fulton told BBC Sport.

"Maybe they aren't linked. Twenty20 is a condensed form but it is a completely new form of competition."

We're still trying to find our best batting order for Twenty20 David Fulton

Spin bowling is playing a bigger part in the 20-over game than originally expected.

Sussex leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed claimed 5-11 against Essex in Wednesday's opening round, although Surrey seamer Tim Murtagh surpassed that with 6-24 against Middlesex.

Those performances were a marked contrast to Yorkshire's England star Matthew Hoggard, who saw his four overs against Lancashire bashed for 65 runs on Wednesday.

Fulton sees combating spin as key if his side are to challenge this year.

"Pace bowlers are coming under fire during the first six overs then the field is spread and the spinners come on and take the pace off the ball," he said.

"We see Rob Key as our biggest destroyer of spin but at the moment he is opening the batting and getting out as the spinners come on.

"We're still trying to find our best batting order for Twenty20."

Kent struggled in their opening match and Fulton, who has so far left himself out of the side in this form of the game, admits they are still "trying to get the hang of Twenty20".

Their meeting with Essex at Chelmsford is one of six games on Friday evening.

Derbyshire host holders Leicestershire in a clash of local rivals, with both sides yet to taste defeat this year.

Hampshire have sold 8,000 tickets at the Rose Bowl for the visit of Sussex Sharks, Northants host Warwickshire, Glamorgan visit Gloucestershire and Lancashire travel to Trent Bridge to take on Notts.