Corey Flintoff made his Kent Spitfires debut as they suffered a Metro Bank One-Day Cup six-wicket defeat to Middlesex at Radlett on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old – eldest son of legendary former England all-rounder Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff – struck an unbeaten 29 off 20 balls in Kent’s 279-6.
But one-time Kent loanee Ben Geddes led the way for Middlesex with an unbeaten 141, his first century in List A cricket, while Luke Hollman made his maiden half-century in the format.
The pair shared a record unbroken 195-run stand for the fifth wicket as the hosts chased down the target with five overs to spare.
England under-19 international Ben Dawkins took three fours from one Noah Cornwell (0-55) over and ramped Toby Roland-Jones (0-26) over wicketkeeper Joe Cracknell’s head to dominate an opening partnership of 52 runs with Kent team-mate Jaydn Denly.
The latter struggled for any fluency and cut Henry Brookes (3-47) to backward point.
Dawkins took his boundary count to eight, only to fall two short of 50 when caught by Cracknell, giving Middlesex List A debutant Sebastian Morgan (3-62) his first wicket.
Chris Benjamin and Joey Evison upped the tempo before Morgan pegged back the latter’s off-stump and a chance for a fourth wicket was spurned when Brookes dropped Benjamin on 33.
Benjamin profited from the life, flaying Morgan over third man and crunching a seventh four through the covers to reach 50, but he fell immediately afterwards to Brookes, which ended a 58-run stand with Harry Finch.
Brookes struck again two balls later to remove Ekansh Singh, superbly caught by Sam Robson and, when Finch became Morgan’s third victim, Kent were 198-6.
But Jack Leaning and Flintoff launched their late charge, Flintoff evoking memories of his father’s batting heroics with two massive sixes, while Leaning’s beautifully-paced effort was capped by clearing the ropes twice in the final over as Leaning ended 63 not out.
The home team’s chase got off to a bad start when Cracknell was caught down the leg-side without scoring.
Sam Robson was then dropped at short fine leg by Michael Cohen (1-67) but, later in the same Fred Klaassen (1-68) over, Josh de Caires attempted an injudicious hook to sky a simple catch to Flintoff (0-27) at mid-wicket.
Robson’s response was to unleash a flurry of boundaries, the former England opener cutting and pulling with authority and, with Geddes launching a maximum into the trees, a 50-run stand came up in 40 balls.
Evison (1-41) wrestled back control, though, having Robson caught behind and, while Davies planted a six over square leg, he didn’t stay for long.
Geddes continued to carry the fight, reaching his 50 with his second six through a huge blow.
Cohen was similarly dispatched into the trees and Hollman swept Matt Parkinson (0-56) to the fence as the partnership prospered.
Both batters were dropped before Geddes, signed on loan by Kent two years ago, moved to his hundred and Hollman got to 50 with the help of a towering six.
Landmarks reached, the pair cut loose to scamper home with time to spare as Hollman sat unbeaten on 77.
Head coach Adam Hollioake had spoken glowingly of Flintoff’s impact with Kent as he handed him his cap before the start of play.
“I’ve known Corey since he was in nappies,” he said. “Obviously, I’m friends with his dad.
“Seeing him over the last year develop into a young man – I always think of him being young because I’ve known him since he was so young – but I’ve seen him turn into the fine young man that he is.
“Obviously, with the spotlight that’s on you and the way you’ve got to carry that family name, you’ve done that beautifully.
“You’re coming out with your own personality, that’s what I like.
“Everything you have done here you’ve earnt on your own merit (with) your batting, your bowling and your attribute.
“You’re one of the most popular guys in the team. Just keep doing what you’re doing.
“Keep being confident, like you are, and keep improving, like you are, then you’ll have a bright future ahead.
“Good luck and well done.”
Spitfires will visit Northamptonshire Steelbanks on Thursday before they return to 50-over action in Canterbury against Somerset this Sunday.
