Denly finds form in Middlesex blitz

Kent lost four wickets in four balls as they collapsed to a 48-run defeat in their Friends Life t20 clash with Middlesex.

Joe Denly, who made an unbeaten 90, came back to haunt his former club as Middlesex piled up 207 for 2, but Kent looked well placed to overhaul them on 120 for 2 before their innings rapidly subsided.

Sam Billings (43 off 29) and Sam Northeast (60 off 43) had put on a quickfire 90 for the first wicket in the Kent reply. Billings and Darren Stevens fell in quick succession but Kent were still in the game when the extraordinary collapse took place.

Northeast and Azhar Mahmood (13) fell in consecutive balls from Neil Dexter, Matt Coles picked out Tom Smith off Paul Stirling from his first ball at the start of the next over, and then the hapless Alex Blake was run out without facing a ball.

Kent could only reach 159 for 7, well short of the Middlesex effort led by Denly, who batted all 20 overs. He and opening partner Stirling, who hit a brilliant 63 off 37 balls, put on 127 in 71 balls.

There was also a terrific cameo from England batsman Eoin Morgan, who scored 36 off 18 balls, including three sixes.