Super Stevens shines for Kent

Darren Stevens was at his belligerent best, cracking 56 from 27 balls as Kent sneaked to victory over Hampshire at Tunbridge Wells

Kent’s Darren Stevens confirmed his credentials in the shortest form of the game with a superb 27-ball innings of 56 which guided his side to a narrow eight-run victory over Hampshire.

A near 5,000 crowd watched the first Twenty20 cup tie to be staged at Tunbridge Wells - a match which was in the balance right through to the final over.

Chasing 183 for victory, Hampshire eventually fell short on 174 for seven, despite a quickfire half-century from Michael Lumb.

Stevens gave Kent the impetus in an innings which was threatening to peter out when he arrived at the crease with his side struggling on 68 for three at the midway point of their innings.

Having elected to bat first, Kent were given a flying start by England Lions opener Joe Denly, who cracked 26 off 17 balls before holing out to long-on off Hawks captain and star bowler Dimitri Mascarenhas - who took 2-19.

Mascarenhas then pegged back Martin van Jaarsveld’s middle stump and Imran Tahir clipped off stump when Geraint Jones missed an attempted sweep, bringing together Rob Key and Stevens for a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 78 in seven overs.

Each scored contrasting half centuries, Stevens from 24 balls with five sixes while Key reached the landmark – his first 50 in all forms of county cricket this year – from 49 balls and with only four boundaries.

The turning point came in the 15th over - the only one of the night bowled by Sean Ervine in his first game back from injury. Ervine conceded 23 - with Stevens hitting three straight sixes - and Kent went on to post 182 for four.

To their credit, Hampshire made an excellent fist of the run chase with an opening stand of 71 between Lumb and Jimmy Adams.

Lumb discarded his doughty reputation to clatter 59 from 33 balls, 50 of those in boundaries.

He eventually edged to wicketkeeper Jones off Ryan McLaren before Adams (11) lost his off stump to the very next delivery, a James Tredwell arm ball.

The Hawks regrouped with another excellent partnership of 72 between Michael Carberry and Chris Benham that peaked with the fourth-wicket pair bludgeoning 19 off Tredwell’s final over.

But some excellent Kent fielding led to a spate of three run-outs in the last two overs and, with 14 needed off the final over, Hampshire missed out as Benham drove over a McLaren yorker and Nic Pothas ran himself out wanting a cheeky bye to Jones.