Matt Parkinson, an England discard, who switched his County side last winter, repaid the faith shown by Kent, as he bowled his side to a massive 98-run victory on the second day of the 2024 edition of the T20 Blast. Parkison registered his first professional hat-trick to finish with figures of 4/25 as Middlesex were bowled out for 107 and suffered a massive 98-run loss at the hands of Kent.
“It’s my first professional hat-trick. It was fun and it is obviously nice to take wickets. It’s been a fairly tough start to the season, so I’ve earned those wickets I think," Parkinson said about his performance. It happened in the 12th over of the innings where Parkinson pegged Middlesex further back with the wicket of Jack Davies on the very first ball. Middlesex had already lost half their by the 11th over mark.
After getting Davies caught at long-on, Parkinson got the right-hander Tom Helm caught at long-off by the same fielder before Henry Brookes, the next batter smashed it straight into the hands of the short cover fielder and the leg-spinner was cock-a-hoop. Parkinson, who last played for England in 2022, hasn't been in the reckoning and will hope to keep doing well in domestic to improve his chances.
Earlier, it was 33-ball 56 from veteran Joe Denly that set up that huge win for Kent. Daniel Bell-Drummond and Zak Crawley too played key cameos at the top as Kent put on a huge score of 205 runs on the board. 206 was always going to be a difficult chase and losing three wickets in the powerplay didn't help Middlesex. Whatever hope was left for them, Parkinson killed it with his hat-trick. Parkinson also dismissed Joe Cracknell to end up with four wickets.
