Kent crashed out of the Vitality Blast at the quarter-final stage after being beaten by Lancashire at The Spitfire Ground on Thursday.

Spitfires struggled with the bat and could only reach 133-9 from their 20 overs.

The run chase was not easy for Lancashire as they also found it tough to score runs but were able to reach their target with eight balls and six wickets left.

Kent’s defence of their 133 total got off to a brilliant start when Jos Buttler was stumped by Sam Billings off Joe Denly for 0 in the first over.

A fired up Adam Milne bowled Adam Lilley for nine in the second over to leave the visitors 10-2.

Lancashire ended the powerplay on 38-2 after some tight bowling by the Kent attack.

Imran Qayyum (2-17) got a key breakthrough in the ninth over to remove Alex Davies for 15 with Heino Kuhn running in from the boundary to take a key catch.

At the halfway stage Lancashire were 63-3 with Keaton Jennings well set at the crease.

Qayyum again picked up a vital wicket in the 14th over. Billings stumped Jennings for 46 from 40 balls to leave Lancashire on 84-4.

It was tight with three overs to go with the visitors needing 24 from 18 balls.

However, Clark and Villas were able to see their side home with important knocks of 29 not out and 30 not out respectively.

Kent lost a wicket in the first over of the match when a horrendous mix-up between Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond saw the latter run out without facing a ball.

Heino Kuhn did not survive long either as he was caught by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler off Toby Lester for eight in the next over to leave Kent 19-2.

The disastrous start for Kent continued when Denly edged one through to Buttler off Jordan Clark in the fourth over with the home side struggling on 22-3.

Skipper Sam Billings and Sean Dickson managed to get their side up to 40-3 at the end of the powerplay.

Matt Parkinson (3-27) struck twice in the 10th over removing Dickson (17) and Stoinis (0) to reduce Kent to 63-5.

Alex Blake was Parkinson’s third victim when he was caught the boundary by Alex Davies for four.

Sam Billings’ cautious innings of 37 from 37 balls was ended by Zahir Khan when he was bowled by the spinner on the last ball of the 16th over to leave the home side 102-7.

A late flurry from Imran Qayyum, who hit 21 from 14 balls, to see Kent post 133-9 from their 20 overs.