FRIENDS PROVIDENT t20, Canterbury:
Middlesex 185-4 beat Kent 183-6 by six wickets
Match scorecard

Gilchrist's previous two Twenty20 knocks for Middlesex were just 2 and 0

Adam Gilchrist celebrated his first game in charge by scoring a Middlesex Twenty20 record score as his side beat Kent by six wickets at Canterbury.

Having won the toss, Gilchrist inserted Kent, who ran up 183-6, with a half century from Martin van Jaarsveld (50) and 44 from Joe Denly.

But Gilchrist smashed 106 off 52 balls, containing seven sixes and 10 fours, to lead his team within seven of victory.

Owais Shah hit the winning runs on 185-4 with six deliveries to spare.

Dexter will take over from Gilchrist as Middlesex's new captain when the Aussie star returns home. But it was the emergency skipper who answered the Middlesex call at Canterbury.

Udal had quit following a pre-match afternoon team meeting held in the St Lawrence Ground dressing room. And, after being thrust into the captaincy role following Udal's mid-afternoon resignation, the 38-year Australian Test great proved an inspiring leader.

Not only did he win the toss, asking the hosts to bat in front of a disappointing Canterbury crowd of barely 3,000, he then held onto the catch offered him by Kent captain Rob Key in only the second over.

Denly and van Jaarsveld joined forces to add 70 for the second wicket inside eight overs, taking advantage of some undisciplined bowling and a short boundary on the lime tree side of the ground.

Kent then maintained their impetus through Geraint Jones (39) and in-form Darren Stevens (39), in a five-over partnership worth 58 as Middlesex were set an asking rate of 9.2 an over.

But, after the early loss of David Warner (17), Gilchrist teamed up with former Kent favourite Dexter to bat the hosts out of contention with a stunning second-wicket stand of 104 in nine overs.

Gilchrist had lasted just 10 balls in his previous two innings for Middlesex since his arrival, making 2 and 0 - and was overdue a good score.

But he was ably supported by Dexter, who hit 45 in a second wicket stand of 104.

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