Middlesex skipper Saskia Horley’s impressive 96 proved too much for Kent Women, who failed to chase down 185 and were subsequently knocked out of the Vitality Women’s T20 County Cup in the first round at Radlett.

Despite scoring slowly against some tight bowling in the powerplay, Middlesex accelerated throughout their innings, with Horley’s 96 well supported by Abbie Whybrow and Finty Trussler, who made 31 and 35 respectively.

Kent’s chase looked initially promising with some aggressive hitting in the powerplay, but they consistently lost wickets throughout the innings, which left them well short of the target. Anaya Patel was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-13 from her four overs.

After losing the toss and being invited to field, the horses got off to the best possible start when Amy Gordon bowled Riva Pindoria through the gate with the first delivery of the match.

Middlesex rebuilt their innings steadily, reaching 37-1 by the end of the powerplay. Izzy Cloke and Sydney Gorham continued their good form from last weekend with some tight bowling that kept the run-rate hovering around 6.

Middlesex then began to accelerate, with captain Saskia Horley as the main aggressor. They picked up 20 runs from Izzy James’ first over, moving to 74-1 at the halfway point.

Kent captain Megan Belt broke the partnership in the 12^th over. Bowling around the wicket, she gave the ball a little more flight and width, resulting in Abbie Whybrow being caught at deep midwicket by Gordon.

Horley reached her 50 in the 13^th over from 39 balls with a pull shot for four. She then hit a big six through midwicket in the following over as Middlesex looked to pile on the runs with wickets in hand.

Kent picked up their third wicket from some sharp fielding in the deep from Elsa Barnfather. Horley drove down the ground, but Barnfather ran out Issy Routledge, who was trying to make it back for two.  

Horley looked to be on for a memorable T20 hundred when she hit Zeena Bilal for consecutive fours to move into the 80s, but she was then starved of the strike while Finty Trussler hit two sixes and a four from Gordon’s last over.

Following an expensive 19^th over, Middlesex were 173-3 with Horley on strike, needing nine runs for her century. After hitting a four and a single from the first two balls, Trussler then gave her back the strike with two balls remaining and four runs needed. Horley attempted a ramp shot from Gorham’s slower delivery and flicked the ball onto her stumps, leaving her dismissed for 96.

Scarlett Hughes heaved the final ball into the leg side where she was caught by Coco Streets for 0, leaving Gorham with figures of 2-30 and Kent with a challenging target of 185 to win.  

The Kent chase initially looked to have started well with Coco Streets hitting consecutive fours in the first over. However, Sarah Pearson responded with a yorker that clean bowled Streets for eight.

Middlesex picked up their second wicket in the third over. Pearson bowled Barnfather for 0, who was attempting a pull shot.

The third wicket fell in the fourth over when Horley had Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones LBW for five.

Horley struck again in the sixth over when Kelly Castle was also given out LBW for four. Kent ended the powerplay on 47-4 with Gordon 25*.

With the required run-rate now above ten, Kent needed to rebuild after losing four early wickets. However, runs were proving more difficult to come by with the spin of Hannah Davis and Anaya Patel on at either end.

With scoreboard pressure mounting, Izzy Cloke attempted a big shot off Patel into the leg side but was caught in the deep by Davis for 9.

Debutant Hollie Young looked to take on the Middlesex bowlers. In her first over, she was dropped by Davis off her own bowling, then hit her for a six and a four in the next two deliveries.

Amy Gordon’s innings ended in the tenth over when she was given out LBW for 29 from Patel’s bowling.

Bilal and Young put on a partnership of 24 before Young played inside a spinning delivery from Patel that bowled her for 16.

Patel was on a hat-trick one ball later when Izzy James was bowled after facing just one delivery. However, Sydney Gorham was very watchful and blocked the hat-trick ball successfully.

With defeat almost certain, Bilal demonstrated her repertoire of shots as she played several deft flicks and ramps, making an entertaining, career-best 36 from 29 balls before she was run out by Horley.

Kent finished their 20 overs on 131-9, with Belt and Gorham on 6* and 8*, losing by 53 runs.

Picture supplied by Kent Cricket.