Alex Blake on his way to 81 not out Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent Spitfires eased to a 58-run victory over Scotland in the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Canterbury on Bank Holiday Monday.

Youngster Alex Blake proved the hero with the bat for the home side, who were put in by the visitors. The 21-year-old cracked an unbeaten 81 from just 56 balls as Kent reached 249-7 from their 40 overs.

His innings lasted a little over an hour and featured eights fours and a six.

Joe Denly (21) and skipper Rob Key (24) put on 45 for the first wicket to give the Kent innings a solid start and despite Martin van Jaarsveld being dismissed for just nine, there were useful contributions from Geraint Jones (24), Darren Stevens (25) and Azhar Mahmood (44) as Scotland's bowlers struggled to contain the runs.

Mahmood then gave Kent the perfect start in the field by bowling opener Rana Hussain (2) with only nine on the board before Makhaya Ntini, playing his last game for Kent, bowled captain Gavin Hamilton to make it 21-2.

George Bailey rallied with a 84-ball 70 before he was dismissed by Amjad Khan, who bowled well to finish with 3-32. James Tredwell finished wicketless but conceded only 26 from his eight overs as the visitors finished on 191-7 from their 40 overs.

The win put Kent third in Group C with six points from six games.