Morgan and Compton run riot

England hopeful Morgan hit a career-best 161 off just 136 balls as Middlesex ran riot at Canterbury

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Stunning centuries from Eoin Morgan and Nick Compton helped Middlesex to a county record 50-over total of 322 for five en route to a comfortable 80-run Friends Provident Trophy win over Kent at blustery Canterbury.

Morgan, the 23-year-old Irish left-hander recently selected in England’s World Twenty20 squad, hit a majestic 161 from 136 balls full of drives, cuts and quirky improvisation to light up a one-sided Group B qualifier.

Right-handed Compton kept Morgan company with an impressive 131 from 127 balls as both players recorded their highest one-day scores for the club.

The third-wicket pair came together in the ninth over with Middlesex 31 for two after the early loss of Phillip Hughes and Owais Shah.

Australia opener Hughes had his off stump trimmed by a beauty from Wayne Parnell, while Shah, in his first appearance since his stint in the Indian Premier League, edged the second ball he faced, an Azhar Mahmood leg-cutter, behind.

Buoyed by the quick removal of the Panthers’ supposed dangermen, Kent seemingly lost focus and three dropped catches coupled with numerous fumbles in the field cost them dearly as Compton and Morgan added 277 in 37 overs – a Middlesex record for any wicket in one-day cricket.

The pair peaked from the 34th over, when they made the call to take the Middlesex batting powerplay. Kent captain Rob Key countered their strategy by bringing back his quickest bowler, Parnell, but that ploy backfired as Morgan and Compton took the 19-year-old South African to the cleaners.

Geraint Jones' continued sparkling form for Kent was in vein as they slumped to a heavy loss

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Panthers added 64 during the five-over powerplay, with 46 coming off Parnell, who showed his inexperience for the first time since joining the Spitfires last month as Middlesex cantered past 300 in their 47th over.

Morgan eventually fell to an impudent, attempted flick off Mahmood that flew to short fine-leg, while in the following over Compton ran himself out going for a second to long-leg.

Kent's reply foundered early on, with their first three batsmen falling to indecisive strokes with little or no discernible foot movement.

Key pushed leaden-footededly from the crease to be caught behind, Martin van Jaarsveld was pinned in front by a Chris Silverwood off-cutter and Joe Denly, after threatening to cut free, wafted outside off stump to edge lamely to slip.

James Hockley played back to a Shaun Udal quicker ball that snared him leg before, least in-form Geraint Jones connected with a flurry of strokes to reach a 40-ball half-century with three sixes before he holed out to deep midwicket for 57.

Heaving across the line, Mahmood edged to the wicketkeeper and, though Justin Kemp clubbed 69 before running himself out, Kent were dismissed with 26 balls remaining.