Middlesex vs Kent Spitfires Prediction: Spitfires can fly high at Lord’s

The T20 Blast group stage is only in its infancy but Middlesex are already behind the eight ball following opening defeats to Sussex and Glamorgan. Since winning the competition in 2008, Middlesex have made it to the quarter-finals only twice and their early setbacks are a continuation of their struggles last year when they won only three group matches.

Two-times Blast champions Kent have missed out on the quarters in each of the last three years but an opening win over reigning champions Gloucestershire last week will have given the Spitfires confidence for the rest of the campaign. Read on for my Middlesex vs Kent Spitfires predictions.

Team News

Middlesex have named a 14-man squad to take on Kent with Ireland fast bowler Josh Little in line to make his first appearance of this year's Blast.

Little missed Middlesex's opening defeats to Sussex and Glamorgan after picking up an injury on international duty last month but could make his debut for the club at Lord's.

Test match opener Zak Crawley should continue at number three for Kent having been left out of England's ongoing white-ball series against the West Indies.

Middlesex vs Kent Spitfires Odds

Middlesex are 11/10 to get off the mark at the third time of asking in this season's T20 Blast at Lord's on Thursday, while Kent are 8/11 to make it two from two in north London.

The Spitfires hit 12 sixes in their opening win over Gloucestershire last week and they are 5/6 to win the maximum count at HQ with Middlesex, who managed only two against Glamorgan on Sunday, and are 5/4 to clear the rope on the most occasions.

Kent @ 8/11

An outstanding batting display laid the foundations for Kent's thrilling four-run success over reigning T20 Blast champions Gloucestershire last Friday and their top order can help the Spitfires make it two from two at Lord's.

All of Kent's top four passed 35 at Bristol as they racked up 208-3 in the West Country.

The Spitfires' bowlers also deserve credit for holding their nerve against Gloucestershire and they could enhance what is an already excellent record in recent showdowns with Middlesex.

Kent have won six of the counties' last eight Blast encounters and they will be tough to stop if their batsmen can get on top of the home attack in the same way Sussex and Glamorgan have in the last week.

Daniel Bell-Drummond top Kent batter @ 10/3

Opener Daniel Bell-Drummond has been a loyal servant and consistent source of runs for Kent for a number of years and he led the way against Gloucestershire with a typically brisk 38-ball 60.

Bell-Drummond has scored 34 fifties and two centuries in 141 T20 matches for his county and he should have fond memories of Lord's, having scored a brilliant 223 in a narrow County Championship defeat there at the beginning of May.

At 10/3, the 31-year-old may again cash in against a Middlesex attack which has looked a touch unbalanced during their first two Blast matches.

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