Kent take on Middlesex in the first game under the new permanent floodlights at the St Lawrence Ground Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Graham Jones

Kent staged a remarkable comeback to claim an unlikely victory in a low-scoring game against Middlesex in the t20 on Saturday night.

In the first game under the new permanent floodlights at the St Lawrence Ground, the home side lost the toss and were forced to bat first.

They looked in trouble as they only managed 115-9 from their 20 overs, a total that could have been a lot worse had it not been for James Tredwell's unbeaten knock of 33.

But a fine bowling and fielding display by Kent ensured the visitors found runs equally difficult to come by on a wicket that was only selected late on, after the original one became affected by the weather, as they ended up on 106-7.

Kent director of cricket Paul Farbrace: “We felt that if we got a hundred then that would be enough, although at 21-6 I am not sure we felt we could win the game.

“When you have you people like Riaz, Langeveldt, Azhar and Treddy, you’ve got four international bowlers (in your side.)

“Middlesex haven't been playing brilliantly in this competition and we felt if we could get a couple of early wickets then we always had a chance of winning the game.

"I thought it was a fantastic effort from everyone in the field and you just felt the momentum was gaining.

“We were always in a great position and halfway stage they were four down and you could sense in their dugout they were thinking ‘here we go again.'

Batting first Kent made a bad start, losing two wickets in the first three overs, and never really got going from there.

Joe Denly was the first to go for a duck when he was caught at first slip off Anthony Ireland whose first over was a wicket-maiden.

Azhar Mahmood, the century-making hero in midweek against Gloucestershire, became Ireland’s second victim with Dexter again taking the catch, this time at short mid-wicket, for one in the third over.

Things went from bad to worse for Kent when Stevens went cheaply, trapped lbw by Steven Crook, for four and Northeast was run out for one leaving Kent on 10-4.

Skipper Key (9) hit the first boundary of the evening in the sixth over before being out next ball, caught behind by John Simpson off former Kent player Ryan McLaren for nine.

Sam Billings was caught behind by Simpson off Ireland for two as the Middlesex player was bowled out taking 3-7 from his four overs.

Kent were in dire straits at 21-6 and were unable to bring up the 50 until the 13th over.

Geraint Jones top-edged the ball to Jamie Dalrynple off Smith for 27 then Wahab Riaz was bowled by Crook for 12 to leave Kent on 79-8.

Adam Ball went for seven playing an attempted sweep shot off Crook as Tredwell and Charl Langeveldt (13 not out) saw Kent through their 20 overs to a total of 115-9.

Mahmood made the breakthrough for Kent with the score on 11 when Adam Ball caught Paul Stirling for two. Ball again took a successful catch at mid-on off Mahmood’s bowling to end Scott Newman’s innings and leave Middlesex on 25-2 in the sixth over.

Ball claimed the next wicket himself when former Kent player Neil Dexter (17) was caught by Billings at mid-wicket while going for a big hit as Middlesex went on to reach 41-3 after 10 overs.

When Jamie Dalrymple was caught by a smart catch from Jones off Tredwell for three, Kent looked like they might be able to pull off a victory.

Simpson was then caught Mahmood at first slip off Tredwell for three and Malan top-edged a Mahmood delivery to Northeast at fine leg to leave the visitors on 60-6.

Langeveldt reacted quickly as McLaren was caught and bowled to leave the score on 68-7.

With two overs remaining Middlesex needed 31 and then 20 off Riaz’s last over which proved too much for them.