Middlesex v Kent

HAVING suffered their first defeat of this season's Twenty20 Cup campaign in Canterbury on Tuesday night, Kent have an immediate opportunity to bounce back when they take on Middlesex at Uxbridge today from 5.30pm.

Spitfires crashed to a seven-wicket defeat to a Sussex side inspired by all-rounder Luke Wright, a player they once considered signing.

The 22-year-old hammered a 44-ball century to ease the Sharks past Kent's 20-over total of 181 for three.

Afterwards man-of-the-match Wright said: "It's a dream come true - 100 off 44 balls, I'll take that. It's about time, because I was disappointed not to get any runs against Essex and then I bowled terribly here against Kent. I was really annoyed with myself so I went out determined to redeem the situation.

"I had a bit of luck, but we have all done loads of work in practice trying to hit into different areas. On another day I could easily have been caught in the deep but things went my way."

Kent will need all the big-hitting they can get tonight when they take on a Middlesex side that contains Tyron Henderson, Spitfires' Twenty20 star from last season.

Rob Key is still struggling with a hamstring strain picked up last night and will have a fitness test ahead of the clash.

If he is unable to play, Martin van Jaarsveld will captain the side and Neil Dexter will step in for Key.

The visitors will need to show more impetus toward the end of their innings if they are to land a second win from four starts.

Against Sussex the Spitfires scored only 21 in their last three overs, with only one boundary coming from the last 24 balls of the innings.

Kent from: Key, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Jones, McLaren, Arafat, Tredwell, Cook, Morkel, Dexter.