Unfortunately arriving late I missed the first 5 overs, but upon entering the ground Hughes was dropped at gully, a chance that Kent should have taken. By the time I was seated Azhar was starting his 3rd over and the sixth of the match. Middlesex were 33 for 0 but Godleman playing a back foot defensive shot nicked a fine edge to Geraint Jones and was dismissed for 16.



Dexter came in at 3, and took a huge swipe outside off stump at his first ball. Whilst trying to get off the mark Dexter looked increasingly uncomfortable, until he managed to leg glance a single down to fine leg. At the end of the first powerplay Middlesex were 38-1 and Kent opted to take the second powerplay. Hughes seemed intent on utilising the fielding restrictions as he first lofted a drive over Tredwell’s head at mid off for 4 and then smeared Parnell (off one knee) for 4 into the leg side.



The 12th over saw the introduction of Stefan Jones (on loan from Somerset) and with his first ball he cleaned bowled Dexter who played down the wrong line. Throughout his innings Dexter was tentative and never looked comfortable.



Morgan came in at 4 and from the offset looked in good nick as he smashed Stevens over cover for a one bounce four and leg glanced Jones for four in the subsequent over. At the end of the second powerplay only 23 more runs had been scored and Tredwell was introduced. With his first ball of the match he induced a false stroke from Hughes who top edged a pull, which Joe Denly caught whilst back- pedalling at point. Malan was next in and got underway with a confident sweep for a single.



Tredwell’s 2nd over would prove to be the match turner. With his first ball he dismissed Malan for 2, after Malan scooped a drive straight to Steffan Jones, who took the simplest of catches at mid wicket. It was a poor shot and a very tame dismissal. Morgan mistimed the fourth ball of the over and cover drove the ball straight to Rob Key at short extra cover for an easy catch. Once again this was a sloppy shot and a tame dismissal, as Morgan had looked well set. Berg came in at 6 and duly edged his second ball to Van Jaarsveld at first slip. Thus Tredwell completed his 3 wicket maiden and swung the match in Kent’s favour, as Middlesex collapsed to 65-6.



With Ferley now bowling in tandem with Tredwell the next three overs only saw one run come from it (a Ferley wide.) What was now required was for Udal and Scott to bat out the remaining 30 overs and try to get somewhere near a respectable score. A captain’s innings was needed by Udal, and after successfully lofting Tredwell to long on for a single earlier in the over, Udal successfully played the most idiotic shot of the Middlesex innings by repeating the shot and holing out at long on, to leave Middlesex at 68-7.



Murtagh came in next at number 8, but was dismissed lbw first ball to leave Middlesex up the creek at 68-8 and Tredwell on a hat-trick, which he failed to achieve.



Silverwood joined Scott at the crease, and after being juggled and dropped by Geraint Jones off the first ball of Tredwell’s sixth over, Silverwood proceeded to smash the next ball for six over long off. This signalled a productive 9th wicket partnership of 25 between the pair, which included another Silverwood six off Tredwell’s seventh over (this time over mid wicket) and a boundary four for Scott. However Silverwood was dismissed for a run a ball 16, as a forward defensive spooned to Denly off the bowling of Ferley.



With Finn the number 11 at the crease the third power play was taken during the 30th over. Scott and Finn put on a valiant 40 for the last wicket. This included a reverse sweep for four by Scott and consecutive boundaries for Finn off Ferley, one an immaculately executed sweep shot. Finn’s resistance ended when Azhar took Finn’s off stump out of the ground. It ended a pitiful performance by Middlesex but a memorable one for James Tredwell who took career best figures of 10-2-27-6, thanks in part to the co-operation and shot selection of the Middlesex batsman.



With Kent only needing a paltry 134 runs to win (2.68 runs per over) their innings reflected this. As they didn’t need to force the pace and or take any undue risks, Denly and Key made a steady and reserved start putting on 35 for the first wicket before Key (on the walk) edged Silverwood behind to Scott for 17.



Much to my and everybody else’s bemusement Malan came on as the first change bowler, with Udal on at the other end. Udal bowled economically and bowled through his allocation with figures of 10-2-22-0; however the reverse was true of Malan. Malan bowled numerous long hops which were greatly dispatched by Denly and Van Jaarsveld; with both striking straight sixes of his bowling. However both would later be dismissed by Malan’s leg breaks as Denly was stumped by Scott after a wild dash down the wicket for 32 and Van Jaarsveld was caught by Murtagh after holing out in the deep for 20.