South Africa's Tyron (attn: correct) Henderson held his nerve as Middlesex beat Kent by three runs in the final of English county cricket's Twenty20 Cup at the Rose Bowl here Saturday to set themselves up for a cash bonanza.
Kent needed just four runs off the last two balls with the big-hitting Justin Kemp, previously dropped by Middlesex stand-in captain Ed Joyce, facing. But seamer Henderson sent down two dot balls to his fellow South African and ran his compatriot out off the last to seal a thrilling victory under the floodlights as Middlesex won their first major trophy for 15 years.
England batsman Owais Shah top-scored with 75 in Middlesex's total of 187 for six from their 20 overs before defending champions Kent, despite 49 from Kemp and 52 from captain Robert Key, the former England international, finished on 184 for five.
By reaching the final, Middlesex and Kent qualified for the Champions League due to be held in India later this year, where the winners will take home 2.5 million pounds (five million dollars) although that event is threatened by a dispute over the involvement of players from the rebel Indian Cricket League.