The 2026 T20 Blast begins at Lord’s, where Middlesex host Kent. Middlesex had a disappointing 2025 and will look to reset. Their batting leans on Max Holden, who has 1043 runs in 43 Blast matches at a strike rate of 156, and Leus du Plooy with 939 in 45 at 149. Tom Helm was their top wicket-taker last year with 20 in 13 games, and Noah Cornwell has taken 23 wickets in his recent outings. At Lord’s last season they won one of four, lost two, with one no-result.
Kent had a much stronger year, reaching the knockout stage before losing the quarter-final to Lancashire by three wickets. Tawanda Muyeye scored 516 at a strike rate of 141 and Daniel Bell-Drummond added 380 in 13 matches, while Fred Klaassen led the attack with 15 wickets in 13 games. Kent have won more than 60 per cent of their T20 matches at Lord’s.
With early help for the new ball and a surface that eases later, the toss could be a talking point, and our preview expects the side batting first to look for 165 to 180. Kent look the more settled team and we back them to win.