Kent Spitfires (141-9) lost to Middlesex (143-3) by seven wickets

Kent Spitfires' miserable T20 form continued on Sunday when they were outplayed by Middlesex at Lord's.

Skipper Sam Billings won the toss but that was as good as it got, Spitfires posting a modest 141-9 before Middlesex eased home with few alarms.

Joe Denly had hit a boundary in each of the first two overs but succumbed to the final ball of the third over, nicking a drive behind off Tom Helm for 10, leaving Kent 22-1.

Zak Crawley, making only his fourth T20 appearance of the summer for Spitfires, drove straight down the ground from the second ball he faced. But he went for 11 in the fourth over, an ugly heave off Martin Andersson going straight up in the air, caught by a tumbling John Simpson.

Billings had a let-off when spilled by Chris Green off Jason Behrendorf on three and then nearly ran himself out off the next delivery as Spitfires closed the powerplay on 38-2.

Jordan Cox looked lively at the start but added only 35 in nearly seven overs alongside Billings before taking on the spin of Thilan Walallawita and skying to short fine leg for 23.

Alex Blake (3) took on the short leg side boundary but picked out Andersson off Chris Green (2-18) to leave Spitfires 70-4 in the 12th over.

Billings hit Walallawita for successive boundaries as Spitfires attempted to increase the run rate. But then Billings’ reverse sweep off Luke Hollman in the next over went straight to Behrendorf and he departed for a 33-ball 29, leaving Kent 86-5 in the 14th over.

George Linde hit what was only the ninth boundary of Kent’s innings but was then bowled by Andersson, dragging on a wide delivery, to fall for eight, Spitfires 98-6 in the 16th over.

Jack Leaning brought up the Kent hundred and it was left to him to try and steer the visitors to a