Kent Spitfires v Sussex Sharks

Spitfires appear to have their sights set on the Friends Provident Trophy quarter finals after gunning to their third successive South East Division win over Sussex in Canterbury.

Hunting down the Sharks' modest 50-over total of 218-9, Kent cantered to a nine-wicket victory with 47 balls to spare for their second Trophy win over Sussex inside seven days.

Playing in front of their best St Lawrence crowd so far this summer, Kent made a decent start to their reply with a sprightly opening stand of 45 between Joe Denly and Matt Walker, who eventually went to a catch at the wicket for 22.

Denly then teamed up with stand-in captain Martin van Jaarsveld to snatch the game away from Sussex with a cracking unbroken second wicket stand that added 174 in 34 overs.

Van Jaarsveld reached his eighth 50 of the summer, this one in 57 minutes and with five fours and two sixes, the second of which just shaved the new lime tree and raised the Kent hundred.

Denly followed him to the milestone, his first time past 50 this summer, from 71 balls, five fours and a six as the depleted Sharks' attack continued to struggle.

Van Jaarsveld later waltzed down the pitch to drive Chris Nash through extra cover to post a 98-ball ton with eight fours and three sixes, his second hundred in the competition this season, and went on to finish on 109 not out.

Denly was also unbeaten on 83 having hit the winning runs, representing his best score against county opposition in any form of cricket since last July.

Though Kent were without skipper Rob Key on England Lions duty and Ryan McLaren with a thigh injury Sussex, who have only won one game in this competition to date, were even worse hit.

Experienced batsman Murray Goodwin missed out due to a family illness, wrist-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is recovering from knee surgery while all-rounder Luke Wright and keeper-batsman Matt Prior were also at the Rose Bowl with the Lions.

That ensured Kent, on a high after three successive wins, went into the game as firm favourites.

The Spitfires had bowled and fielded tightly to restrict Sussex to their modest 50 over total under sunny skies and on a decent playing surface.

Only left-hander Michael Yardy, who scored 50 in last weekend's reverse fixture in Hove, reached a half-century as Kent's attack extracted some early lift and seam movement off the pitch.

Rory Hamilton-Brown (35), Chris Adams (24) and Carl Hopkinson (48) all got themselves well set but, just as they threatened to play the innings-defining knock, each got himself out to Simon Cook.

Adams played across the line to go leg before and Hamilton-Brown heaved into a drive to be bowled. Then Hopkinson, in trying to paddle over short fine-leg, got an inside edge onto his pad to loop a catch through to the keeper.

Two run outs from van Jaarsveld and a sharp stumping from Geraint Jones that accounted for top-scorer Yardy for 54 were the other highlights of the Kent fielding performance as they set themselves up for a successful chase at an asking rate of only 4.38 an over.

Cook, who conceded three boundaries in an over to Adams, recovered to finish with 3-41, while Yasir Arafat claimed 2-31.