Kent Spitfires (288) beat Middlesex (154) by 134 runs in One Day Cup at Beckenham

Kent boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the One Day Cup with a 134-run win over Middlesex at Beckenham on Sunday.

Spitfires were all out for 288 but, with plenty of spin options at their disposal, they restricted the visitors to 154 all out.

After winning their first two group games by setting targets, Kent captain Jack Leaning opted to bat first on a used Beckenham pitch.

Ben Compton had an early escape on seven when he was put down by Ryan Higgins at point in the ninth over.

Daniel Bell-Drummond again featured for the Spitfires, reaching his half-century in 54 balls before sending the spin of Luke Hollman (3-53) to Higgins at long-off, leaving Spitfires 109-1 in the 21st over.

After Leaning was dropped by Sam Robson at slip on six, Kent advanced the scored to 188-1 in the 32nd over when Compton decided to hit out, departing for 60 off 92 balls after picking out Ethan Bamber at mid-on.

Leaning’s 37-ball half-century included six fours but he could only watch from the other end as Kent lost four wickets for 17 runs in six overs. Alex Blake hit a six but was bowled by Hollman for 10, Harry Finch went for a golden duck in the same way and young Jaydn Denly made six off 16 balls before he was bowled by Higgins. James Bazley then picked out Hollman off Martin Andersson for the second of three ducks in the innings.

Grant Stewart set about helping Kent nudge towards 300, taking 24 off one Andersson over which included three successive sixes.

He dominated a half-century partnership with Leaning, scoring 42 of those runs. But Leaning’s departure for 68 off as many balls signalled another flurry of Spitfires wickets.

Higgins bowled Stewart for 43 off 30 balls, Jas Singh went the same way for a second-ball