Essex end Kent hopes

Sam Northeast: Was run out in embarassing fashion

Mark Pettini: Top-scored for Essex with 59

Kent's chances of reaching the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals were ended with a 23-run home defeat to Essex at Canterbury.

The Spitfires' fifth defeat in the competition confirmed the exit of the 2007 champions, but Essex, with five wins and 10 points, could still qualify by beating Hampshire on Sunday.

Kent's challenge unravelled when Sam Northeast (16) and Darren Stevens (10) were run out in embarrassing fashion in the space of three balls as Kent made 126-9 in reply to the visitors' 149-5.

The home side lost opener Sam Billings for just eight and then, with only 21-1 on the board after the power play overs, Rob Key was bowled by James Franklin to depart for seven.

After reaching the mid-point of their innings on just 42-2, the Spitfires suffered a setback soon after when Northeast, having been dropped at deep mid-wicket by Tim Phillips, clashed with third-wicket partner Stevens when crossing for a second run and was run out by the return throw by Phillips.

Run out

Stevens endured a similar fate one run and two balls later when, in calling for a single to cover, he was sent back by Azhar Mahmood and run out by Reece Topley's throw.

Mahmood then departed for just 11 before Alex Blake slogged a brace of sixes in his cameo 16, but fell when aiming another maximum against Topley (3-19) to firmly kill the contest off.

Essex were earlier put into bat and lost New Zealand all-rounder Franklin without scoring, but former Eagles' captain Mark Pettini then combined with Greg Smith to add an enterprising 98 in 12 overs for the second wicket, with Pettini (59) the main aggressor.

The opener and Smith (32) fell in quick succession as a string of wickets from Darren Stevenson (3-13) produced some nervy moments for Essex.

But Owais Shah contributed a useful unbeaten knock of 25, including a clipped six in the last over, to help the visitors to what would prove to be a winning total.

Sky Bet Odds: