Dickson’s effort in vain

Sean Dickson had mixed emotions after falling a run short of a century on his Kent white-ball debut in a losing effort at Middlesex on Sunday.

Paul Stirling (112) and Eoin Morgan (103 not out) both scored hundreds as the hosts eased to a sixwicket victory in the Royal London One-day Cup at Lord’s after chasing down Kent’s 50-over total of 238-7 with 31 balls to spare.

Impressive bowling by Steven Finn (2-31 from 10 overs) and Tim Murtagh (2-38) hampered the visitors with Dickson playing-on from a fine Finn delivery to end his stay on 99.

The South African-born batsman said: “Getting out for 99 was a pretty big pill to swallow but if you’d offered me that at the start of the day, I would have taken it.

“Getting a big score at Lord’s is an experience that is a dream come true for me in many ways. Finn is an unbelievable bowler and a difficult man to face.”

Stirling and Morgan put on 214 in 39 overs for the third wicket after Ryan Higgins edged Matt Coles’ first ball to first slip in the second over and Middlesex were reduced to 16-2 when Nick Gubbins was caught behind off Mitch Claydon in the fifth over.

When Stirling eventually fell, chipping Joe Denly’s leg spin to short extra cover, only nine more runs were needed for victory. Morgan saw Middlesex home at 239- 4.

Both teams came into this South Group tie with two wins from four matches but, for such an important game in the eight-fixture group stage, both also had to do without two players chosen in the England Lions squad for the Tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka A.

Kent’s total, although below-par, was almost entirely due to a fighting third-wicket stand of 135 in 26 overs between Dickson, whose 99 from 126 balls was a career-best in what was only the 24-year-old’s sixth List A appearance and Darren Stevens, who scored 61 off 70 balls.

Dickson added: “After the stand between myself and Darren I thought we could have kicked on to get around 270 as a minimum so it’s disappointing we couldn’t get more runs.”

Finn deserved more than just the scalp of captain Sam Northeast (2) in a blistering new ball spell.

Murtagh, also a handful, had Denly (4) leg before in the third over.

At 12-2, when Finn sent back Northeast, it looked as if Kent – with Daniel Bell-drummond and Sam Billings missing – were in big trouble.

Somehow, Dickson and Stevens managed to see off Finn and Murtagh and, against the change bowlers, they began to build their fine partnership.

When Stevens slog-swept Rayner straight into deep square leg’s hands in the 32nd over, the all-rounder slumped down on his bat in disappointment.

Dickson, having edged Finn to go to 99, chopped the next ball into his stumps and only Alex Blake (23) and Callum Jackson with an unbeaten 28, made much impression after that.

‘Getting a big score at Lord’s is a dream come true’