Crusaders down Spitfires in epic final

Middlesex shocked the huge crowd at the Rose Bowl by winning the Twenty20 Cup with victory over Kent in a thrilling final.

The Lord's-based outfit had already caused an upset by beating favourites Durham in the semi-finals while Kent booked their place in the final with victory over Essex in their last-four encounter.

Kent were expected to retain their title in the shortest form of the game, with a star-studded line-up of big-hitters and a superb captain in Rob Key.

But it was Middlesex who took the honours, with a three-run success, which went right to the last ball of the match.

Electing to bat first, Middlesex made a challenging 187-6 from their 20 overs, with England one-day star Owais Shah's 35-ball 75 the highlight of the innings.

Tyron Henderson continued his semi-final heroics with a rapid 43 while Ed Joyce chipped in with 23.

The Kent reply got off to a great start as Key (52) and Joe Denly (31) put on an opening stand of 89 in quick time.

Following the pair's dismissal Darren Stevens (33) and Justin Kemp (49) then set about rebuilding the innings and 16 runs were needed off the final over, with Kemp and Azhar Mahmood at the crease.

A thumping four down the ground from Kemp and another four, courtesy of two overthrows, meant that the Spitfires needed three off the last two balls to tie the match and win the trophy on fewer wickets lost.

However Kemp could not get a bat on Henderson's penultimate delivery and, attempting a futile run off the final ball, was run out to hand the Crusaders their first Twenty20 title.