Martin van Jaarsveld’s second half-century in as many days gave Kent Spitfires an opening win in their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign for 2011.

The South African, pictured, scored a 73-ball 85 to provide the backbone for an eight-wicket victory over Middlesex Panthers at Lord’s on Monday.

Sam Northeast provided steady support with an unbeaten 63 as Kent romped home to victory with more than nine overs to spare.

Chasing 177, Rob Key was caught behind early on off Tim Murtagh for just eight, but Northeast and van Jaarsveld soon set about laying the foundations for a convincing win.

Van Jaarsveld reached 50 at a run-a-ball with a six into the Grand Stand off Anthony Ireland. He repeated the dose twice more, along with seven fours, before finally succumbing to Dawid Malan’s part-time spin.

Northeast’s half-century was a more serene affair, but he hit three consecutive fours to finish the game off in the 31st over. Darren Stevens also hit a straight six into the pavilion as he finished unbeaten on 13.

Kent named an unchanged side from Sunday’s six-wicket defeat to Worcestershire. Key won the toss and elected to field.

Ashley Shaw was the pick of the bowlers with 3-26 from his seven overs in Middlesex’s total of 176-9. Fellow rookie left-arm seamer Adam Ball claimed 2-41, including the wickets of Paul Stirling (17) and Middlesex captain Neil Dexter (2) in the same over.

Opener Scott Newman top scored with 49 before he was caught a run short of a well-deserved half-century by van Jaarsveld. James Tredwell forced the breakthrough in a tidy spell of 1-24 from eight overs.

Stevens’ single spell from the Nursery End produced figures of 2-33. He clean bowled Gareth Berg (15) and then Tom Scollay (3) in consecutive overs to reduce the hosts to 83-5.

A further slump to 136-8 was halted by a late rally from Ireland and Murtagh, who added 30 for the ninth wicket.

Kent: Key, Northeast, van Jaarsveld, Stevens, Blake, Jones, Azhar Mahmood, Tredwell, Ball, Shaw, Riley.

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