ROB JOSEPH ran through Middlesex's tail and understudy wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien took six catches to help dismiss the visitors for 235 on the opening day of their final Frizzell match of the summer.

Batting first after winning toss, Middlesex got into huge trouble after lunch losing their last five wickets for 49.

Simon Cusden took three for 47, Matthew Walker two for 21 and Rob Joseph returned to run through the tail with three for 47 as Middlesex succumbed inside 72 overs.

Canterbury-born Cusden made the first breakthrough in the 16th over of the day having Sven Koenig (39) caught behind after edging a flashing, back-foot force.

But at the other end David Stiff suffered a young bowler’s nightmare, sending down seven no balls and a wide in his opening six overs.

Cusden thought he had two when Ben Hutton, with his score on 16, edged a low catch to Niall O’Brien, but the batsmen refused to walk and the umpires John Steele and Michael Harris, remained undecided as to whether the ball had carried. Justice was seemingly done six balls later when Hutton, without addition, top-edged a hook shot to O’Brien running back toward fine leg.

After lunch Matt Walker got in on the act, taking two vital wickets in the space of six overs with his part-time military medium-pace. Owais Shah (25) nibbled at a leg-cutter to edge behind then Paul Weekes (12) nicked an expansive drive to make it 143 for four.

Ben Trott, playing his last game for the county, then deservedly got in on the act, as Ed Joyce (20) pushed at one running across him to give O’Brien his fifth catch of the innings.

Cusden then bagged his third scalp and O’Brien his sixth catch when Ben Scott followed a leg-cutter and edged to the keeper.

The Middlesex tail succumbed in no time, some poor shot selection leading to three ducks for the last three players.

In reply, Kent reached six without loss after two overs.