Middlesex delighted the majority of a county record out-ground crowd of 4,107 by reviving their T20 hopes with a 16-run defeat of Kent Spitfires at Old Deer Park, Richmond.
Brendon McCullum’s captain’s innings of 88 in 51 balls looked set to be the launchpad for a formidable total but Calum Haggett’s 3-27, and a Matt Coles’ hat-trick, restricted the hosts to 179-8.
However, Kent started poorly and while half-centuries from Sam Northeast and James Neesham kept them in the hunt the rate climbed steadily. With wickets falling too they fell to their third defeat of the competition.
Put into bat on a greenish pitch Middlesex began with alacrity, but also with the benefit of fortune. Matt Coles surprised McCullum when the Kiwi was on six but though the ball popped up temptingly it fell between fielders. McCullum had scored another 11 when he drove the same bowler to Northeast at cover only for his Kent counterpart to drop him. On both occasions, to Coles’ chagrin, the next ball was smacked for four.
With McCullum reaching his 50 in the ninth over, and the opening partnership into the 80s, 200-plus beckoned. Even after Dawid Malan, having pulled Coles for six into the food tents, gloved the next ball to depart for 33 it was 125-1 after 13. But James Tredwell (1-22) and Haggett staunched the flow of runs.
Frustrated, McCallum played one bold shot too many, bowled trying to ramp, and a clatter of wickets ensued. Morgan followed successive sixes by holing out then Coles took a last-over hat-trick completed by bowling Tim Southee first ball.
Southee fared better with ball in hand, having Daniel Bell-Drummond leg before to the opener’s first ball. The in-form Joe Denly, having survived a very sharp chance to McCullum, then edged Finn to leave Kent 2-2. Sam Billings soon followed but Northeast and Neesham, running excellently for a pair only recently acquainted, and finding hitherto unseen gaps in this small outground, added 75 in nine overs. However, boundaries were sporadic and by the time Northeast skied the rate had crept above 11-an-over.
Darren Stevens quickly followed but Kent have a long battery of hitters. Blake joined Neesham and it came down to 38 off three overs, then 29 off two, but when that pair perished the game was done.
Steve Finn hailed his Middlesex team as the strongest T20 side he had played in since the county won the competition nine years ago following their 16-run T20 defeat of Kent Spitfires at Richmond.
Middlesex, under the new Kiwi coach-captain combination of Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum, have taken time to settle but added Kent’s scalp to that of Surrey to leapfrog the Spitfires.
Defending 179-8 Finn began with wicket-maiden as Kent were pegged back to 2-2 and the England bowler said: “We knew in a eight-nine-runs-an-over chase early wickets can set the other team back so we put an importance on getting them and luckily we did. It was a tough wicket to come in and hit and we knew if we kept making them hit at good balls it would work for us.”
The only batsman to master the wicket was McCullum with a 51-ball 88 and Finn said: “It was an exceptional innings and great to watch. He hit so cleanly. Everyone is happy in the dressing room right now. We have an exceptional top order. This is the strongest team I have played in since since making the final in 2008. We’ve been found wanting in T20 since so it is important we have put this structure into place, We are still getting to know the coaches and captain anf haven’t fired consistently as a team yet, but we don’t want to peak too early.”
Middlesex go straight into Friday’s derby with Surrey and Finn added: “It is a big game, it’s good fun. It is those sort of occasions we enjoy playing in.”