Local boy Alex Blake hit a six off the penultimate ball of the match to see Kent home by one wicket against Surrey in the opening Royal London South Group match of the season at Beckenham.

The 27-year-old left hander hit 66 not out off 62 balls and deservedly win the sponsors man-the-match award after helping rescue Kent from a top order collapse as they slipping from 112-1 to 115-5.

Blake and Northeast added 72 in 14 overs., before the Kent captain fell for 47 with 41 still needed, Blake who plays his club cricket a mile down the road stayed to seal an exciting win in the grand manner as Kent finished on 260-9, in front of a crowd of around 4,000.

Four wickets in four overs put the skids under Kent's reply, after Daniel Bell Drummond and Joe Denly had added 95 in 18 overs, following the early loss off Tom Latham.

The Kiwi looked a little disappointed to be ajudged lbw to left arm seamer Sam Curran, out for seven with the score 16 in the fourth over.

Bell Drummond passed 50 for the seventh time in one-day cricket, before he and Denly went in consecutive overs, both to catches by Kumar Sangakkara.

Denly fell for 38, before the former Sri Lankan test star held on to a great running effort, diving full length at third man.

Cowdrey and Billings followed in quick succession, before Stevens and Northeast stayed to repair the damage.

Matt Coles went for nought, then James Tredwell was run-out for seven - but it got Blake on strike, and he finished things off in style.

Earlier Surrey who won the toss and batted, went past 50 before losing two wickets in successive overs.

Steve Davies was first out for 23 with the total 56, attempting a hook off David Griffiths to be held comfortably by Bell-Drummond at fine leg, the first of three catches in the deep for the young Kent opener.

Jason Roy then went for 32, two runs later, second ball of James Tredwell's first over, again DBD judging the catch well, low down at long-on.

Sangakkara and Rory Burns (30) then added 78 in 14 overs, the latter pulling a short ball from Darren Stevens into the hands of Alex Blake on the mid-wicket boundary.

Sangakaara reached his 50 off 43 balls with three fours and a six, only added eight more before chipping Fabian Cowdrey to Tredwell at mid-off leaving Surrey 153-4 in the 30th over

Wicket-keeper Gary Wilson (11) then gloved the second ball from the returning Coles to Billings who made good ground to cling onto a low diving catch, as Kent's out cricket continued to impress.

Sam Curran (22) lofted Tredwell to Northeast ,as the Kent spinner with an impressive 2-33 off his 10 overs, before Ansari made 30 before being seventh out at 222, with four overs left - DBD this time holding on at long-on.

Curran's brother Tom was then bowled by David Griffiths for 11 - the ball clipping leg stump - neither batsman or bowler seeming to notice, before being alerted by the Kent fielders.

Surrey skipper Gareth Batty (16 not out) clubbed Coles for six over mid-wicket as he and Matt Pillans (11 not out) added an unbeaten 25 as Surrey ended on 255-8.