Zak Crawley hit a half-century for Kent but the weather had the final say in their Vitality Blast trip to Lord’s on Thursday night.

Spitfires made 172-9 against Middlesex with Crawley hitting 57 from 34 balls.

However, the rain came during the interval, and the hosts’ reply never got under way before the game was abandoned as a no-result.

Crawley said: “At times it felt like a really good wicket, at other times it was a bit of a challenge.

“I think that was quite competitive in the end, we felt it would have been a 50-50 game so it was a shame not to get back out there.

“I felt in good touch, it was a shame to get out when I did. I was a bit greedy, eyeing him up a little bit too much there – I had to calm myself down!

“But I was pleased with how I played, hopefully next time I can get a bigger one.

“I don’t mind batting at three, you can have a bit more of a look sometimes rather than when you’re opening. I’ll fit in wherever they need me and it’s gone OK the last couple of games.

“I love playing T20 and playing for Kent, there are some of my best mates in the world in that dressing room.

“We always seem to have a good side on paper, a talented bunch and momentum’s the key word. We feel like we’re building some and we’ve just got to believe in ourselves.”

Rain delayed the start by 25 minutes after Middlesex had won the toss but Kent opener Tawanda Muyeye wasted no further time, striking five fours in his 34 from 26 balls after Daniel Bell-Drummond went for seven.

When Muyeye departed, missing a ball from Zafar Gohar (1-25) that kept low and hit off stump, it was Crawley who took up the baton by pummelling Middlesex debutant Josh Little over the fence to raise his side’s 50 at the end of the powerplay.

However, spinner Luke Hollman (3-42) stifled Kent’s progress by removing both Joe Denly - despite Jack Davies initially fumbling the stumping opportunity - and Sam Billings cheaply.

Chris Benjamin had to be helped from the field with an injured arm after diving in vain to try and beat Ben Geddes’ throw from the deep before Crawley renewed the charge by hoisting Hollman for successive sixes over long-on.

Crawley paid the price for attempting to make it three in a row, with Ryan Higgins judging the catch perfectly just inside the rope. The England opener hit four fours and three sixes.

Although Tom Helm (3-29) captured two wickets in as many balls, late hitting by Fred Klaassen and Nathan Gilchrist ensured Kent rallied at the death.

Spitfires are back in Blast action on Friday when they host Surrey at Canterbury.

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