Kent batsman Justin Kemp summed up the feeling of defeat quite simply in saying: "I'm gutted, just gutted," after just missing the chance of becoming a Spitfires' hero in Saturday night's failed Twenty20 run-chase at The Rose Bowl.

The 6ft 6incs South African hammered 49 from 36 balls to take Kent to the brink or retaining their title and, with only two balls of the clash with Middlesex remaining, he and Spitfires were favourites to win.

But, with only three needed for a tie and four for outright victory, former Kent all-rounder Tyron Henderson held his nerve to bowl a dot-ball yorker and a similar last ball delivery that led to Kemp's run out and a first title for Middlesex in 15 years.

Speaking from a subdued Kent dressing room afterwards, Kemp said: "It's been a funny Twenty20 campaign for me with Kent as I feel I haven't played very good cricket all.

"I've been very tentative throughout, so today I thought I'd throw caution to the wind and play my game.

"I don't think I've been excessively nervous, more a case of me trying too hard to perform and win games for Kent and as a result I've put more pressure on myself.

"To get that close and not win it I'm obviously gutted, very gutted, because just one hit and it was all over, but credit to Henderson, he bowled two really good balls right at the end there."

Kemp added: "I thought he'd definitely get one of those balls wrong but he didn't. I saw the ball (the penultimate delivery of the game), played the shot and missed it. It felt almost unbelievable that I'd missed it.

"I felt we'd won the game; that I'd done enough, but that's Twenty20 for you and that's why it's so popular with the crowds."

In looking ahead to a potential trip to the sub-continent to play in the proposed T20 Champions League, Kemp added: "Kent have done well to get to two successive finals and to come this close to winning it again was a tremendous effort.

"We have some fine county players and a good team spirit and if we can keep this squad together then I see a really bright future for Kent.

"We are putting ourselves in contention in all forms of cricket and still have a Lord's final to look forward to.

"The guys haven't really spoken at length about Champions League yet as we feel that'll take care of itself nearer the time.

"We've just tried to leave that aside, leave the politicians and administrators to iron out the problems and play good cricket as a team. Hopefully, despite this defeat, we can still get there and prove that we are a good one-day side."

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