T20 Blast round-up: Kent Crowley stars back as Lancs hang on for win

Clarke’s electric knock gave Sussex a flying start – left-hander Matt Milnes hit three consecutive sixes and Tom Rogers’ second over cost 30 as the visitors raced to 92-0 in the powerplay.

But once Clarke caught former Sussex off-spinner Bertie Foreman in the deep to give him his first Spitfires wicket, Kent brought it back through fellow debutant Forrester, whose career-best figures included a double-wicket maiden.

James Coles (26 from 28) and former Kent batter Jack Leaning (25 from 30) did their best to regain momentum but, despite a late flurry from Danny Lamb, making an unbeaten 22 from 12, the visitors fell just short of 200.

Openers Tawanda Muayi (15 to 26) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (19 to 29) scored quickly before Crawley and Sam Billings added 55 from 32 to keep Kent in control of the required deficit.

Spitfires skipper Billings (17 to 28) miscued Finn Hudson-Prentice and was caught at backward square, but Forester settled with back-to-back cover boundaries as Crawley picked up the pace.

He was given life for 42, drilling Danny Briggs at long-on – only for Tom Allsopp to squirm the ball over the ropes – and Lamb was brought up for three sixes in an over before Forrester pushed Tymal Mills to the fence with 10 balls to spare.