Kuhn hits 90 in Middlesex defeat
Heino Kuhn top-scored with 90 and Calum Haggett and Matt Henry each took three wickets as Kent Spitfires lost to Middlesex at Radlett.
Ireland opener Paul Stirling scored a sparkling century and England ODI captain Eoin Morgan hit a fluent 50 as the hosts posted 313 after electing to bat first.
Book tickets to save on gate prices >
Stirling and England Lions opener Nick Gubbins got Middlesex off to a flyer, adding 63 runs off the first 8.3 overs before Gubbins nicked Henry to Rouse.
The Irishman then shared a century stand with Stevie Eskinazi (31), striking eleven boundaries and five sixes as he attacked in the second powerplay.
His compatriot Eoin Morgan joined him at the crease to share a 75-run stand off 65 balls before Stirling holed out to Blake at mid-off to give Stevens his solitary wicket in a tidy spell of 1/46 in ten overs.
Calum Haggett’s second spell of 3/33 in six overs proved pivotal in restricting Middlesex from inflicting further damage with the scalp of Eoin Morgan, bowled the delivery after reaching his half-century and dismissing Nathan Sowter and Tom Helm in successive overs.
Henry moved his tally for the summer to 42 wickets by bowling Australia Test batsman Hilton Cartwright for a duck before returning to remove Steven Finn in the final over.
In reply, the Spitfires came out attacking with Zak Crawley promoted to open with Daniel Bell-Drummond adding 39 together off the first four overs before Crawley top-edged a Helm bouncer to a tumbling Sowter at third man.
Denly nicked Helm behind to John Simpson in his following over before in-form Bell-Drummond (44) rebuilt with Heino Kuhn before being adjudged to have nicked a legside delivery behind to Simpson.
Alex Blake (12) was bowled through the gate by left-arm spinner Ravi Patel before Darren Stevens’ uppercut found sub fielder James Harris at third man in the next over.
Kuhn reached his 21st one-day 50 and shared stands of 57 with Rouse (34) and 71 with Haggett (31) as Kent Spitfires made a game of it with 90 needed off the last ten overs.
Rouse nicked Cartwright to Simpson before an injudicious single off an overthrow found Haggett short of the crease.
Kuhn’s innings ended as he chopped a short Helm ball that kept a little low onto his stumps before Henry and Qayyum holed out in quick succession.
The opening home One-Day match is against Glamorgan next Friday (25 May) at The Spitfire Ground before Somerset come to Canterbury on Tuesday 29 May (2pm).
There’s also a double-header at The County Ground, Beckenham against Surrey (Friday 1 June) and Gloucestershire (Sunday 3 June). All matches start at 11am unless stated with gates opening an hour before.
Book tickets to save on gate prices >
