Kent produced an astonishing fightback with bat and ball to record a superb seven-wicket victory in a dramatic game at Derbyshire on Wednesday afternoon.

After seeing their hosts amass 492 all out in their first innings, it took a career-best double-hundred - Kent’s third of the season - from Sean Dickson to get the visitors past the follow-on, though he was given excellent support by Matt Coles who scored 41 out of an eighth-wicket stand of 97 in 20 overs.

Kent eventually finished 412 all out in reply after tea on day three, having seen Joe Denly retire before the third day’s play after his wife went into labour.

Kent managed to claim three quick wickets on the penultimate day to see the hosts 9-3 on the final morning, with a lead of 89.

James Tredwell (4-45, including his 400th First Class wicket) and Calum Haggett (a career-best 4-15), however, ripped through the order in favourable bowling conditions to leave Kent chasing 175 for victory.

They ensured Derbyshire lost seven wickets for the addition of just 45 runs in the space of 93 balls to collapse to 94 all out.

Dickson - who became the first Kent player since 2011 to carry his bat through an innings for his unbeaten 207, including 24 fours and two sixes in 362 balls - made just 16 in the second innings and Adam Ball, batting at three in the absence of Denly, went for 23.

Daniel Bell-Drummond continued his fine form with an onslaught on the final afternoon.

With the threat of rain in the air, Bell-Drummond finished with 80 not out from 99 balls after sharing fifty with Sam Northeast (30), Alex Blake joined him to steer Kent over the line with three sixes from as many balls.

Kent won for just the second time in Specsavers County Championship Division 2 this season and completed a 21-point haul and reclaim second spot behind leaders Essex.

Coles took 5-116 and Tredwell and Ball two apiece in Derbyshire’s first innings as Kent let their hosts off the hook on 35-3 with Wayne Madsen making 103 and Shiv Thakor (130) and Tom Taylor (80) sharing a record 150 for the eighth wicket.

Bell-Drummond fell for just four in reply and with Denly heading home unbeaten on 34, Kent were in trouble when Northeast (12), Alex Blake (6) and Ball (40) went with the score on 188 and just five batsmen remaining.

Adam Rouse made 25 and Haggett hit 15, supporting Dickson as the score moved to 285 but a golden duck for Tredwell, who fell to Thakor (5-63) meant Coles (41) and Mitch Claydon (0 from 15 balls) needed to hold up an end while Dickson pulled Kent past 400 and his beat his own previous best of 173 in the process.