Middlesex defended their title with a 106-run win over Kent at Lord’s on Friday afternoon, after Katie Wolfe tore through the chase with five wickets for 19 runs and Kent were bowled out for 54 in the 14th over. The visitors had been in command earlier, reaching 83-1 midway through Middlesex’s innings, but the game turned sharply once Kent’s bowlers got to work.

Saskia Horley led Middlesex with 70 off 50 balls, reaching a 36-ball half-century before being caught at square leg by Coco Streets off Megan Belt. She and Isabella Routledge put on 109 for the second wicket, giving Middlesex the platform for a total of 160-6. Routledge made 26 before being bowled by Isabella James, while Finty Trussler was caught at long-off for 25 and Middlesex closed on 160-6.

Kent’s reply never settled. Amy Gordon was bowled first ball by Sonali Patel, who also had Kelly Castle edging behind for one. Coco Streets was bowled by Katie Wolfe for seven, and Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones hit a couple of boundaries before being caught at backward point. Hollie Young was trapped in front for four, Zeena Bilal top-edged to mid-wicket in the eighth over, and Kent were all out for 54.

The result mattered because Middlesex arrived as the defending champions and still found a way to win after being well placed at 83-1. Kent had briefly done enough to keep the score in range, but Wolfe’s spell removed the safety net and left them with no recovery route. For Kent, the day ended with a collapse that erased the promise of the middle overs and left them 106 runs short.

What follows is the test Middlesex usually face as champions: whether they can keep finding answers once opponents get a foothold. On this evidence, Wolfe gave them the decisive one.