Ravi Patel "chuffed" with wicket on Middlesex FLt20 debut

Ravi Patel says making his FLt20 debut for Middlesex was a great moment.

The 21-year-old spinner took figures of 1-17 and influenced a run out as Middlesex beat Essex by seven wickets.

He told BBC London 94.9: "I have been in the squad for the first two games but didn't quite make the XI.

"I was just happy to make the side. From there, I wanted to do my part. The wicket helped me as it turned a bit and was a bit slow to score runs against the spinners."

A crowd of almost 20,000 were at Lord's for Thursday evening's encounter in the South Group, which the left-armer admits was a bit daunting.

"I was just chuffed to get the nod to play," Harrow-born Patel said. "I was really excited to be out there.

"I knew there would be nerves, but [I felt it] especially when I walked on the field. There were so many people in the crowd and I have never played in a crowd like that.

"Those initial nerves settled after two or three overs after I got a few touches on the ball. I started to feel at home.

"The next step was the first ball of my first over. I was going to come on after the powerplay from the Media Centre End but Dexy [captain Neil Dexter], all of a sudden, put me on from the Pavilion End.

"It all happened so quickly and I didn't have time to think about anything."

Patel picked up the wicket of Mark Pettini, who had looked well set with 37 off 26 balls, in his second over to help Middlesex restrict Essex to 170-8 from their 20 overs.

"I saw it on the big screen just after I got it and it looked like it had turned a bit," he said.

"He was batting really well so it was a good for me to get that wicket at that time.

"I knew when Adam Voges and I came on it was a make-or-break situation. If they had gone after us then they could have got a massive total but we managed to peg them back together, which was really satisfying."