Sam Billings cut a frustrated figure after Kent slid to a fifth NatWest T20 Blast defeat of the group stage.

The England wicketkeeper-batsman was the foundation of the Spitfires innings, cracking a superb 74 from 40 balls as the hosts stuttered to a total of 163-9 at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence. Darren Stevens (18) was the second-highest scorer.

However the visitors cruised to victory with an over and five wickets in hand thanks largely to Chris Nash carrying his bat for a measured 73 from 58 balls.

Billings admitted: “It was an odd game really, it was an absolutely belting pitch but T20 is a game of fine margins.

"It was a couple of overs with the bat which cost us and a couple of overs here and there with the ball, which was a shame.

"Credit to Chris Nash who played a top-class knock - that was the wicket we really desperately needed throughout, but we weren’t quite at it to be honest."

He added: "That's the best pitch we've played on at Canterbury this year without a doubt. That was as good as you'll see.

"There was a little bit of extra bounce with the odd one but apart from that you really got value for your shots."

Despite having lost half of their 10 games so far, Kent still have a chance of a top-four spot in the tight South Group with four games remaining.

Biliings added: "As soon as we started getting back into the game we seemed to let the pressure off which you can’t afford to do in T20 because it's very hard to then claw it back.

"You can't afford to let the pressure off, especially in the South Group where there's not a single weak team. Sussex were in the bottom two but are as good a bowling attack as you'll face all year.

"It's frustrating. We're still in it though if we can just piece it all together - we need a big effort."