Kent suffered a fifth defeat in seven NatWest T20 Blast South Group games after a 40-run humbling at home to Middlesex on Friday night.

Some superb fielding from James Tredwell and 4-31 for evergreen Darren Stevens restricted the visitors to a total of 210-6, which might have been far worse, despite dangerman Brendan McCullum carrying his bat for a superb 87 not out from just 57 balls.

McCullum hit four fours and five sixes as the visitors total was boosted by a six-run penalty for slow play for the Spitfires.

However despite an eye-catching career-best 71 from Fabian Cowdrey, only Sam Northeast’s 41 gave him any support as Kent fell well short infront of a bumper crowd of more than 5,000 on a glorious evening at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

It might have been much worse as McCullum and Dawid Malan began in frightening fashion after winning the toss, putting on 100 from the first 52 balls.

Malan made 60 from 34 balls with eight fours and three sixes before falling to a stunning one-handed reflex catch at point from a leaping Tredwell in the first over from Darren Stevens.

The same combination earned the wicket of Paul Stirling with the score on 119 two overs later, this time Tredwell diving to his left to pluck a superb catch out of the air.

More tight fielding accounted for James Franklin (1) with Fabian Cowdrey producing a direct hit from deep for a run-out just three balls later.

James Fuller (1) became Stevens’ third scalp when he was bowled in the 13th over and John Simpson made it a wicket in each of the all-rounder’s four overs when he skied one to Alex Blake at long-on for two to make it 142-5 with 34 balls to come.

With McCullum at the other end the danger was ever present and though Nick Gubbins cleared the ropes in his 11, he was caught by the scrambling Northeast off Matt Hunn with 25 balls left and Middlesex on 155.

Ryan Higgins supported McCullum to the close, cracking three fours in his unbeaten 17, the Kiwi took 15 himself off the 18th from Claydon and another nine from the last from the same bowler as they set Kent a record total to chase against Middlesex.

The reply could not have begun in worse fashion as Tom Latham pulled the first ball onto his own stumps from Toby Roland-Jones, who them got fellow opener Joe Denly (6) to mistime one to Franklin in the third over to make it 19-2.

Northeast and Cowdrey added 57 in 40 balls but the skipper holed out to Podmore off Franklin for a breezy 41 from 28 balls to end the ninth over with the hosts on 76-3.

The required run-rate rose over 14 and though Cowdrey kept Kent in touch, Blake (3) was caught inches inside the rope by Fuller going for a straight six off Nathan Sowter to make it 97-4 in the 13th over.

Cowdrey reached his half-century from 32 balls and then surpassed his career best T20 score as he tore into the spin of Paul Stirling whose 14th over went for 20.

Sam Billings fell for seven to end a 34-run partnership in the space of 19 balls but the hosts needed 85 from the final five overs.

Stevens clubbed a trademark six to leave Kent needing 72 from the last 24 balls and Cowdrey moved onto 71 before he fell to a fine running catch from Fuller after a 42-ball stay which yielded eight fours and a six to become a third scalp for Roland-Jones.

Kent needed 66 off the final 18 balls but Stevens was caught on the rope by Sowter off Fuller for 17 ending any faint hope and they closed on 170-7.

They face Sussex in a T20 at Canterbury on Thursday (6.30pm) with a trip to Chelmsford to face Essex the following day (7pm).