Stirling and Morgan fire Middlesex to Cup win

Paul Stirling and Eoin Morgan both scored attractive hundreds as Middlesex eased to a comfortable six-wicket victory against Kent in the Royal London One-day Cup at Lord’s.

Stirling hit 112 and Morgan an unbeaten 103 – putting on 214 in 39 overs for the third wicket – as the hosts chased down Kent’s 238-7 with 31 balls to spare.

Also central to Middlesex’s success was the brilliant bowling of new ball pair Steven Finn (2-31) and Tim Murtagh (2-28).

Kent’s total, though below-par, was almost entirely due to a fighting third-wicket stand of 135 in 26 overs between Sean Dickson (99) and the veteran Darren Stevens (61).

Finn and Murtagh had reduced the visitors to 12-2, but somehow
Dickson and Stevens managed to see them off and built a partnership against the change bowlers.

An extraordinary upper-cut six off James Fuller by Stevens helped to change the momentum of the innings, while Dickson played a classical off drive for four against left-arm seamer James Franklin and a reverse-slapped boundary against Rayner.

Their fun ended when Stevens slog-swept Rayner straight into deep square leg’s hands and Finn’s return brought Middlesex right back into the game.

Dickson chopped on one short of his century and only Alex Blake (23) and Callum Jackson (28 in 24 balls) made much impression after that.

Middlesex’s response began in similar fashion to Kent’s, as Ryan Higgins (0) edged Matt Coles to first slip in the second over and Nick Gubbins (2) was caught behind off Mitch Claydon to leave them 16-2.

But Stirling and Morgan outdid Stevens and Dickson, chalking off the bulk of the runs themselves with 26 fours and two sixes.

When Stirling eventually fell, chipping former Middlesex man Joe Denly’s leg spin to short extra cover, only nine more were needed for victory.

Despite the further loss of George Bailey, Morgan saw Middlesex home for an important victory.