Kent’s opening game of the 2020 T20 Blast finished as a no result, despite the Spitfires dominating opponents Hampshire throughout the game.

Kent restricted their visitors to 139/6 with the ball before the returning Zak Crawley, alongside captain Daniel Bell-Drummond, flew out the blocks with the bat – the Spitfires reaching 52/0 from 4.1 overs – but the rain arrived with five more balls needed for a result and Kent well ahead of any potential DLS score.

Kent got off to a brilliant start with the ball when Matt Milnes, playing in just his second professional T20 match, picked up the wicket of Tom Alsop with a slower ball early on, caught by Jordan Cox at point.

Wickets continued to fall quickly. A piece of magic from Fred Klaassen resulted in a the runout of former Kent captain and dangerous batsman Sam Northeast for just two, and Klaassen then picked up a wicket himself, having new Hampshire signing George Munsey caught at deep cover point by Jack Leaning for 19, leaving the visitors 28/3 from five-and-a-half overs.

Hampshire needed a partnership, and they got just that as Joe Weatherley and Lewis McManus came together and dug in to make their way to a 50 partnership, despite the impressive Imran Qayyum (0/22), Milnes and Klaassen consistently looking threatening.

Both batsmen hit sixes as they targeted Calum Haggett (0/27 from three overs), who was making his first Kent appearance of the season, and they seemed to be batting Hampshire to a total they could at least try and defend.

The partnership though, which took Hampshire to 14.5 overs, was broken for 70 when Milnes picked up his second of the game having McManus caught at long on by Alex Blake, and, as expected earlier on in the day, the rain then arrived.

Following a rain delay of around 30 minutes, Klaassen had Fuller caught behind for six, but Weatherley carried on going. He picked up four fours and two sixes on his way to 50 and added another two fours before being caught off the penultimate ball of the innings for 68 as Klaassen picked up his second of the game.

Hampshire finished on 139/6, a total perhaps below par, but something to defend. Weatherley was the star of the innings for Hampshire, with Milnes (3/19) and Klaassen (2/20) impressing for Kent.

England’s latest test centurion Zak Crawley opened the batting for Kent alongside captain Daniel Bell-Drummond, and the hosts got off to a flying start with Crawley smashing 16 off the first over.

Bell-Drummond backed up his partner and the duo dashed to a 50 partnership, up at the start off the fifth over from just 25 balls.

Five overs are needed to complete a game, and the rain returned to break Kent hearts with the Spitfires well ahead of a potential DLS score, but five balls short of five overs being completed.

The umpires gave a cutoff time, but there was never any chance the game would beat it and the match was soon declared a no result, meaning both teams take one point apiece from their opening fixture of the tournament.

Kent will play their second game of the Blast on Saturday, away to Middlesex.