TWENTY20 CUP: Middlesex Crusaders 171-7 (2pts) beat Kent Spitfires 165-8 (0pts) by six runs

A scintillating partnership between Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan at Uxbridge put Middlesex's Twenty20 Cup campaign back on course after successive defeats.

Morgan treated a 3,251-strong Park Road crowd to his full repertoire of languid flicks, improvised scoops and exquisitely-timed drives as he launched five sixes in a superb 62 off 43 balls.

Middlesex were in a spot of bother when he was joined by Malan at 43 for three but the pair added 94 together in 11 overs, the latter initially playing second fiddle before showing he can produce equally sweet music as he finished on 52 not out from 34 deliveries.

Chasing 172 for victory, Kent were on course at 97 for two but Robert Key's wicket was key in more ways than one as he went for a cultured 49, comfortably taken at long-on by Morgan to give Shaun Udal (3-19) one of his three top order scalps. Kent struggled to find the boundaries after that and although Azhar Mahmood (19) and Matt Stevens (28 not out) kept them in touch until the final over, Tyron Henderson held his nerve, ending with four for 29 to add to the 22 runs he bludgeoned earlier.

Middlesex went on to beat Sussex a day later and then Surrey to finish top of the South Division and guarantee a home tie with North Division runners-up Lancashire, in the quarter-finals. Park Road had been earmarked for a last eight match but concerns over the ground's limited capacity of 4,000 have meant it has been switched to the Oval, home of Surrey, because Lord's will be hosting the Test match with South Africa when the game takes place on Tuesday.

Middlesex fans are urged to wear pink to show their backing for the club's support of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Tickets (£20 adults, £10 U16s) are available by calling 08712 461100 or at www.surreycricket.com