Joe Denly hit a century to rescue Kent in their Friends Provident Trophy clash against Warwickshire at Edgbaston today — and that was good news for Middlesex.

The visitors slumped to 113 for five in the
Group B encounter after losing Rob Key (20), Martin van Jaarsveld (one) and Geraint Jones (one) but recovered to make 265 off 49.2 overs.

Opener Denly, 23, was instrumental in leading the fightback by smashing nine fours and three sixes in his innings of 115, before he was caught off seamer Steffan Piolet.

Middlesex, who are second in the group, need Kent to win to have any hope of reaching the quarter-finals after they lost a bid to replay their match against Somerset.

An umpiring error helped Somerset win Sunday's game at Lord's on the Duckworth/Lewis method as they were given more powerplay overs than they were entitled to.

The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday acknowledged the miscalculation by the officials, but though they had sympathy for Middlesex, decided to uphold the precedent that umpire errors cannot form the basis to declare a match null and void.

Friends Provident Trophy — Grp A, Trent Bridge: Notts 145 v Hants 95-0 (17ov), Worcester: Ireland 152 v Worcs 32-6 (10ov). Grp B, The Grange: Somerset 220-8 v Scotland 46-1 (10ov), Edgbaston: Kent 265 v Warwicks 50-0 (8ov). Grp C, Riverside: Gloucs 254-8 v Durham 24-0 (7ov). The Brit Oval: Surrey 329-8 v Yorks 30-1 (7ov). Grp D, Cardiff: Derbys 211 v Glamorgan 31-2 (8ov). Old Trafford: Lancs 214-7 v Essex.