Vitality Blast 2022, Kent Spitfires vs Middlesex (Canterbury): Joe Denly's blazing ton helps Kent grab an edge

The credit for the success goes to Joe Denly, who architectured 58-ball 110 runs, including six sixes and nine boundaries, to take the total to 192.  

Joe Denly opened the innings with Daniel Bell-Drummond for Kent, but Jason Behrendroff trapped Daniel Bell-Drummond for a two-ball duck in an LBW. Jordan Cox took the field to anchor the innings with Joe Denly, and the duo went on to stitch a 157-run partnership off 87 balls. Chris Green broke the successful partnership by taking Jordan Cox (45). After Cox's fall, Joe Denly scored 110, whereas other players hardly contributed to the total. Kent, eyeing 200-plus total, Chris Green, and Martin Andersson didn't give a time of recovery to the batters, scalping three wickets each. A focused attempt from Denly to hit his way into the way enabled the team to post a mammoth total of 192 at the loss of 8 wickets. 

Middlesex hardly came to terms with this chase in response to the enormous total. They had hot and cold innings from players, but none could capitalise on making it big. Their highest individual score of 30 off 24 came from the bat of skipper-opener Stephen Eskinazi. Kent's spin bowlers proved vastly superior. The highest partnership of 31 off 21 arrived at the 7th wicket between Luke Hollman and Jason Behrendroff as Luke smashed 29 off 19 balls. The South African George Linde and Qais Ahmed, a young Afghan, bowled well enough to suggest they can be at the center of a Kent challenge that can now gather force. Jack Leaning scalped three wickets apart from these two, while Linde and Grant Stewart took two-wicket each. The bowlers were good with the ball, but a poor shot selection from Middlesex batters made it easier.

With the first win grabbed by Kent Spitfires against Middlesex, they will clash with Essex Eagles, whereas Middlesex will lock horns with Hampshire on 7th June 2022 in the hope of revival.