Crusaders v Spitfires - preview

Date released: 25 April 2008

Middlesex Crusaders take on Kent Spitfires on Sunday 27 April in the first Friends Provident Trophy match of the season at Lord's - with the final set for 16 August at 'The Home of Cricket'.

Both sides will have one eye on the final going into Sunday's match.

The home side have started their FP Trophy campaign well - putting local rivals Surrey to the sword down at the Brit Oval.

England batsman Andrew Strauss scored a personal best one-day score, clouting 163 runs from just 130 balls as Middlesex coasted home as winners by 58 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Relished return

The Spitfires' first Trophy game went less well - beaten by 31 runs by Essex at Canterbury.

Key's name is on the Lord's Honours Board for his 221 in 2004 Kent's Robert Key and James Tredwell have both recently been called-up to the 26-man England Performance squad.

Tredwell may relish his return to 'The Home of Cricket' he found some prodigous turn and picked up three first innings wickets when playing for MCC against Sussex in the season opening fixture: MCC v Champion County.

Key will also have happy memories of Lord's - the ground where he scored an impressive 221 against West Indies in 2004.

The Spitfires are sure to be wary of Middlesex bowler, Tim Murtagh.

The former Surrey man picked up a wicket at the Brit Oval but it was his 4-21 that helped clinch a 36-run victory for Middlesex in the last clash between these two sides at Lord's - in the NatWest Pro40 last summer.

Murtagh clearly has his eye in this season too. His 7-95 against Glamorgan in the LV County Championship match at Lord's helped give Middlesex a slender first innings lead.

It should be another exciting contest.