Khan takes two to send Middlesex into a Festival Week tailspin

Kent v Middlesex LV County Championship Division 2, Day one in Canterbury
By Mark Pennell
THE top versus bottom clash in the LV Championship second division followed the form book as leaders Kent reduced basement side Middlesex to 121 for six by lunch on the opening day of Canterbury Festival Week.
Opening bowler Amjad Khan started the rout with a new ball spell of two for 34, Azhar Mahmood and Simon Cook chipped in with a wicket apiece, while Middlesex added to their own downfall with a couple of needless run outs.
The visitor“s capitulation started as early as the fifth ball of a sunny morning after Middlesex had elected to bat and take first use of a firm pitch with good carry, but one with a hint of green in it.
The visitors had only three on the board when Sam Robson, in wanting to run a third out to deep mid-wicket, was sent back by opening partner Nick Compton only to be run out by Rob Key“s return to the non-striker“s end.
Six overs later Owais Shah (16), having hit three fours in his 22-ball cameo, played late on a full-length ball from Khan to be bowled and make it 30 for two.
In his next over, Khan had Compton (7) caught behind by a diving Geraint Jones after the right-hander fenced away from his body then, six runs later, acting Middlesex captain Eoin Morgan (5) prodded at an Azhar Mahmood leg-cutter with no discernable foot movement to be caught by Martin van Jaarsveld at second slip.
The rot continued in the 12th over when left-handed Dawid Malan (2) risked a single to cover off the bowling of Mahmood only to be run out by Joe Denly“s direct hit.
With only 70 on the board Ben Scott (14) fenced at Simon Cook“s third ball of the day from the Pavilion End to be caught at first slip by Justin Kemp.
Seventh wicket partners Murali Kartik (28) and Gareth Berg (33) posted a 50 stand through to lunch, but both were given lives by van Jaarsveld and Tredwell respectively when sharp slip chances went down.
Earlier, Kent made two changes to the side that beat Derbyshire on Monday, South African“s Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren were rested and Sam Northeast and Azhar Mahmood both included.
Photo by ARPics