Zak Crawley blazed his first half-century of this season’s Vitality Blast before wet weather wiped out the prospect of an intriguing Middlesex run-chase against Kent Spitfires at Lord’s.

Crawley’s hard-hitting knock of 57 from 34 balls underpinned the Spitfires’ total of 172 for nine, with paceman Tom Helm and leg-spinner Luke Hollman taking three wickets apiece for the home side.

A downpour during the interval prevented Middlesex from launching their pursuit of the target – although they earned their first points of the tournament, taking two for the no-result along with Kent.

Rain delayed the start by 25 minutes after Middlesex had won the toss and put their visitors in, but Tawanda Muyeye wasted no further time, striking five fours in his bristling knock of 34 from 26.

When Muyeye departed, missing a ball from Zafar Gohar (one for 25) that kept low and hit off stump, it was Crawley who took up the baton by pummelling Middlesex debutant Josh Little over the fence to raise his side’s 50 at the end of the powerplay.

However, spinner Hollman stifled Kent’s progress by removing both Joe Denly – given out on umpire’s review despite Jack Davies initially fumbling the stumping opportunity – and Sam Billings cheaply.

Chris Benjamin had to be helped from the field with an injured arm after diving in vain to try and beat Ben Geddes’ throw from the deep before Crawley renewed the charge by hoisting Hollman for successive sixes over long-on.

Crawley paid the price for attempting to make it three in a row, with Ryan Higgins judging the catch perfectly just inside the rope and, although Helm captured two wickets in as many balls, late hitting by Fred Klaassen and Nathan Gilchrist ensured Kent saw out their overs.

But the rain returned before Middlesex’s openers could strap on their pads to begin the chase and the contest was eventually abandoned just before 9.15pm.

The Spitfires are back in Blast action on Friday when they host Surrey at Canterbury, while Middlesex travel to Chelmsford to face Essex two days later.

Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi said:

“We haven’t walked away with the full points tonight but I’m really pleased with the way we managed to bounce back from a confidence perspective. In the field we were buzzing around and the bowlers did their job.

“Hopefully that’s a bit of a springboard for us to take into a really busy period over the next few weeks. I’m over the moon with the way we approached this game and certainly it’s the benchmark for us moving forward.

(Josh Little, who made his Middlesex debut) “He embodies everything we want to be as a team in the way he plays his cricket – he never takes a backward step. He’s an aggressive bowler who bowls quick and challenges guys on the back foot.

“He’s coming back from a hamstring injury so no doubt it’s going to take him a bit of time to find rhythm, but we love what he brings as a person and with his skill set as well.

(Tom Helm, who took three for 29) “He’s come back from a long-term shoulder injury and it’s amazing to see him out there enjoying his cricket. Really pleased for Helmy and no doubt he’s going to have a massive part to play in the next 10-11 games.”

Kent Spitfires’ Zak Crawley, who top-scored with 57 from 34 balls, said:

“At times it felt like a really good wicket, at other times it was a bit of a challenge. I think that was quite competitive in the end, we felt it would have been a 50-50 game so it was a shame not to get back out there.

“I felt in good touch, it was a shame to get out when I did. I was a bit greedy, eyeing him up a little bit too much there – I had to calm myself down! But I was pleased with how I played, hopefully next time I can get a bigger one.

“I don’t mind batting at three, to be honest – you can have a bit more of a look sometimes rather than when you’re opening. I’ll fit in wherever they need me and it’s gone OK the last couple of games.

“I love playing T20 and playing for Kent, there are some of my best mates in the world in that dressing-room.

“We always seem to have a good side on paper, a really talented bunch and momentum’s the key word. We feel like we’re building some and we’ve just got to believe in ourselves.”

Picture supplied by Ray Lawrence Photography.