Alex Blake provided some of the few high points for Kent on a dismal weekend with his highest t20 score and two stunning catches.

The 24-year-old hit a six and three fours in an unbeaten 37 to be Kent’s top scorer in the nine-wicket defeat against Middlesex at Uxbridge on Sunday.

The 34-ball knock beat his previous best t20 score of 35 against Surrey at the Oval last summer.

Even more spectacular, however, were catches he held in front of the Sky cameras at Chelmsford on Monday night.

The first was a sliding effort coming in from the deep square leg boundary to account for Ravi Bopara and the second a diving effort over his shoulder off a pull from Owais Shah just two balls later.

Blake said: “We had been chasing a bit of leather and it was important that we took a couple of wickets at the right times. Luckily, a couple came my way and I managed to hold on to them.

“The second one came straight at me and kept swerving towards my right. I managed to cling on and just land inside the rope. It was nice to get it, especially on TV as well.”

Blake departed for two on Monday, a day after his best Kent score and said: “I’ve been feeling all right but I’ve been coming in when the run-rate is quite high.

“Over the five games we’ve got into the habit of ‘here we go again’. It’s tough. We’ve struggled to clear the ropes from day one.

“We all need to work on our striking a bit more but we all need to stay positive and hopefully we can get a few wins in the second half of the t20.”

With a two-week break for championship action, Blake added: “I’d like to play in all forms of cricket. I need to keep trying to put up scores for the 2nds and hopefully when a spot becomes available, I’ll be able to slip in and take my chance again.”