Kent 129-5 (15 ov) lost to Middlesex 111-6 (11.4 ov) by 4 wkts (D/L method)
Adam Rossington superb innings snatched a dramatic victory for the Panthers in a rain-affected t20 opener at Canterbury.
Kent clocked up 129-5 in an innings shortened to 15 overs due to the weather, with Kyle Mills picking up a wicket on his Panthers debut.
Paul Stirling and Joe Denly fell cheaply in reply before another shower produced a revised target of 111 for the visitors to aim at.
South African Vernon Philander took four Panthers wickets in a three-over spell but Rossington hammered 41 off just 20 deliveries to see his Middlesex home with two balls to spare.
Panthers had put the Spitfires in to bat and new signing Mills wasted little time in claiming his first wicket, as Rob Key edged to wicket-keeper Rossington for 13 in the fourth over.
Rain intervened after five overs, with Kent on 36-1, and the hour delay forced a reduced match.
When play resumed, Panthers took four wickets in 26 balls with Ollie Rayner, Gareth Berg, Neil Dexter and Josh Davey all chipping in but a costly last Tim Murtagh over, conceding 17, saw Kent finish on 129-5.
Chasing an adjusted target of 132, Panthers got off to the worst possible start as Paul Stirling fell for a duck off the fourth ball and Joe Denly followed not long after.
After another rain interruption, Middlesex were set 111 to win off 12 overs – but even this target looked unlikely as Philander produced some inspired bowling against his old club.
But Rossington’s heroics helped Panthers chalk off the 36 they needed from the final three overs.
He hit three fours and three maximums, the last of which cleared the rope to win the game for Middlesex.
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This post was last modified on 10/07/2013