Middlesex v Kent

SPITFIRES' eight-game winning streak in limited overs cricket came to a surprising end following their 36-run NatWest Pro40 League defeat to Middlesex Crusaders at Lord's.

Aiming to regain the leadership of Division 2 following Yorkshire's reverse to Surrey, Kent appeared to be coasting to their target in reaching 100 for two, but the dismissal of Martin van Jaarsveld led to a horrible collapse as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 51 runs inside 14 overs.

On a flat but sluggish pitch that turned for the spinners, albeit slowly, it was skipper Rob Key and van Jaarsveld (30), fresh from championship centuries against Worcestershire, who again tucked in with a stand of 67 in 15 overs that followed the early demise of Joe Denly (1) and Matt Walker for a plucky 19.

The third-wicket pair upped the run rate with 24 inside 12 balls from Murali Kartik and Alan Richardson, the highlight two pre-determined clips by Key that sailed for six into the Tavern Stand.

Van Jaarsveld, who also cleared the ropes into the second tier of the Mound Stand, perished when trying to repeat the shot then, in the next over, Neil Dexter (1) played across the line to be bowled by Kartik to heap pressure on Key and the remaining batsmen to come.

Geraint Jones cracked when on six, chasing down the wicket to Jamie Dalrymple and aiming to leg he was stumped by a yard to leave his side still needing 64 off the last 10 overs with five wickets intact.

Ryan McLaren (4), also aiming for the short Mound Stand boundary, was bowled by Kartik for four, James Tredwell (4) got a leading edge to mid-off and, two balls later, Simon Cook miscued high to extra cover also off the bowling of the excellent Tim Murtagh, who finished with four for 21.

A spell of 13 overs without a boundary ended with Key's cover drive off Jamie Dalrymple, but then Marin Saggers (2) chanced a second against the arm of Richardson to be run out.

With miracles required, Key, on 72 from 105 balls, aimed to hit a straight six off Chaminda Vaas only to hole out to mid-on and give Crusaders victory with 20 balls to spare,

Earlier, former England seamer Saggers put the skids under the Crusaders with his most economic spell ever in 40-over cricket of two for nine.

Bending his back throughout an unbroken eight-over stint from the Nursery End, he bowled former team-mate Ed Smith (12) with an out-swinger and added the prized scalp of Andrew Strauss, when the left-hander dragged onto his middle and leg stumps when attempting to pull.

Saggers also had a hand in the third dismissal, running out Eoin Morgan with an under-arm throw after a suicidal call for a single with Ed Joyce to receive an ovation from the modest 3,000 crowd.

Sadly for Key, the remainder of his attack proved less frugal, especially Malinga, who conceded 55 from his eight, wicket-less and wayward overs.

Scores: Middlesex 187 for five after 40 overs; Kent 151 all out. Middlesex (2pts) won by 36 runs.