Twenty20 Cup pressure huge - Key

Key led Kent to victory in the Twenty20 Cup in 2007

Kent captain Rob Key says players are feeling under more pressure than ever to succeed in Twenty20 cricket.

The Spitfires go into Wednesday's game against Surrey lying second in the so-called "group of death" with just three points separating the top four teams.

Key told BBC Radio Kent: "These Twenty20 [games] are becoming the most pressurised cricket going really.

"There's so much on it now. Everyone wants to do so well. Finals day is such a big day to be a part of."

He added: "It's a tough group to get through - Middlesex haven't won a game this year and yet they won it last year.

"Surrey, with Chris Adams and a very good coaching staff, have been playing some good Twenty20 cricket, so it's not easy.

"We're going to have to be at our best to get a result there."

Key guided Kent to Twenty20 Cup glory in 2007, and the county were runners-up to Middlesex last year.

But in the first phase of group games this season, the Spitfires lost to Sussex and Essex before bouncing back on Monday with victory over Hampshire.

Coach Simon Willis said: "The bottom line is it's in our own hands.

"We got frustrated at the back end of the first round of games and things didn't go our way.

"But I think that's brought us together tighter as a unit and the guys are very focused on going out there and finishing the job off."