Eoin Morgan returned to domestic duty with a half-century as Middlesex thrashed Kent Spitfires by 115 runs to claim their first win of the season in the NatWest T20 Blast.
England’s one-day captain, who returned earlier this week from his stint in the Indian Premier League with Sunrisers Hyderabad, hit three sixes and four boundaries in a sparkling 27-ball cameo.
His contribution and an even more punishing 90 from 49 deliveries by opener Paul Stirling powered Middlesex to a score of 205 for five in front of a crowd of 13,500 at Lord’s.
Stirling struck seven sixes and six boundaries and it was a surprise when he was out in the 14th over trying to clear the mid-wicket boundary off Darren Stevens.
Kent were never in contention as James Franklin took 5 for 21, his best figures in the format, and they were bundled out for just 90 in 14.4 overs.
Leg spinner Nathan Sowter wrapped up the innings with two wickets on his debut for a Middlesex team who, on this evidence, look well equipped to improve on a poor record in the competition, having only reached the knockout stages once since 2006.
