Skipper Dawid Malan struck an unbeaten half-century to lead Middlesex to a thrilling victory over Somerset in a rain-reduced T20 clash at Lord’s.

Malan thrashed 53 not out from 28 balls as the home side, put in to bat in a game reduced to nine overs a side, successfully defended their total of 92-3.

Malan gave Middlesex an encouraging start with two sixes as the first over, from Tim Groenewald, yielded 21 runs – but it was downhill after that as subsequent bowlers applied the brakes.

Brendon McCullum, making his penultimate appearance for the Lord’s side, never really got going and made seven before he swished Lewis Gregory behind.

Paul Stirling (1) and James Franklin (0) soon followed, but John Simpson – who plundered 26 from just 12 balls – joined Malan in an unbroken partnership of 53 as the home side posted 92-3.

Somerset’s opening pair, Jim Allenby (17) and Johan Myburgh (12), put together a brisk partnership of 29 – but a trio of impressive catches soon reduced them to 30-3.

Stirling dived in to dismiss Allenby and Mahela Jayawardene first ball, sandwiching Steven Finn’s determined run to account for Myburgh at long-on.

From then on, the contest swung to and fro and Somerset entered the final over with 13 required – and there was controversy as Roelof van der Merwe was caught and bowled by Finn, only for the umpires to call a no-ball.

However, Craig Overton could only scramble a single from the final ball as Middlesex – who are back in action at Kent on Friday – edged home by four runs.