Another sorry batting display sent Kent tumbling to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Surrey.

Kent’s fate was sealed before lunch on the final day as Surrey chased down their target of 125 at The Oval despite spinner James Tredwell taking 3-57.

After losing most of the opening day to rain, Kent should have collected a draw but they were dismissed for double figures in their second innings late on day three, making their 25-run first innings lead largely irrelevant.

Teenage debutant Sam Curran took 3-9 with the new ball and then Gareth Batty’s (4-12) off-spin helped send Kent from 86-5 to 99 all out amid a rush of poor strokes from the tail.

Curran, the second-youngest Surrey debutant at just 17, took 5-101 in Kent’s first innings. At 154-6 it needed an excellent stand of 151 between Sam Billings and Calum Haggett to guide Kent beyond 300.

Billings, dropped on 11 at square leg, was on course to register his debut first-class century for Kent but was trapped in front by for 99.

Billings, whose best score in 12 previous championship innings this season was just 37, cover drove three consecutive boundaries during Curran’s first over of the afternoon to complete an 82-ball half-century that included 10 boundaries in all.

But, having moved to 99, Billings survived one appeal when Curran re-entered the attack. The next delivery was again full in length and this time the shout was answered with a raised finger.

Haggett’s invaluable knock of 80 was ended by a good low catch from Kumar Sangakkara at first slip and Kent were quickly bowled out for 336.

Surrey burst out of the blocks to finish day two on 144-1 but they stumbled early on day two, losing four wickets before lunch, including Arun Harinath for an overnight 76.

Sangakkara’s elegant 110 kept Surrey in the hunt, despite Stevens taking 4-76 which included the 300th first-class wicket of his career.

Sangakkara, running out of partners, reached his hundred by pulling Matt Hunn for four, but he soon under-edged into his stumps attempting a similar stroke against the same bowler.

Kent lost Daniel Bell-Drummond, Adam Ball and Joe Denly in the first five overs of their reply to Curran.

Captain Sam Northeast’s 33 provided some assurance but his dismissal signalled another batting collapse - and one that was to prove costly.