Kent’s roller-coaster campaign in the Royal London One-Day Cup continued with a convincing eight-wicket win against Sussex at Canterbury on Sunday afternoon.

The Spitfires continued their lose one-win one form as they bounced back from Friday’s thumping loss at Middlesex to secure an equally emphatic win against their neighbours on a glorious afternoon at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

The victory – their second in five games thus far, with two defeats and a wash-out in addition – was built on a foundation of superb bowling, after skipper Sam Northeast won the toss and put the visitors in to bat infront of a big crowd to kick-off Canterbury Cricket Week.

Darren Stevens was the hero with the ball, the all-rounder rolling back the years to collect 4-29 off 10 disciplined overs and doing a fine job of sending the middle order packing, while Daniel Bell-Drummond celebrated signing a new two-year deal on the eve of the game with a fine half-century to steer his side over the line.

Mitch Claydon (2-25 off 7 overs) set the tone by ousting Chris Nash and Matt Machan cheaply early-on, while Luke Wright (17) was bowled by Matt Coles to leave the visitors reeling on 33-3 from 9.3 overs.

Stevens accounted for George Bailey, Craig Cachopa, Michael Yardy and Will Beer in succession as Sussex slipped to 67/6 before the midway point, and then 99/7 with more than 20 overs still to come.

Ed Joyce amassed a gritty 36 from 61 balls but he fell to Matt Hunn on his List A debut, and although Kent’s own Ollie Robinson yet again proved to be a thorn in his home county’s side with a rapid 30 from 39 balls batting at nine, he edged Hunn (2-31 off 8) to James Tredwell at slip, and Coles bowled Chris Liddle (2) to whip the visitors out for 154 with 33 balls to spare on a pitch which hid few demons.

Kent's reply began in lightning fashion with Joe Denly attacking the contest as if it were a T20 contest.

Denly stroked six fours and clubbed three sixes in an entertaining 48 from 34 balls before he mistimed one from Alphonso Thomas and sent it soaring to a back-pedaling Liddle to leave his side 58/1 from 9.3 overs.

Bell-Drummond remained in the middle and despite a spot of kamikaze running for the second straight game he beat the run-out attempt and steered Kent towards their target at a typically measured pace in the baking sun.

Northeast joined him to guide Kent into three figures but the captain departed for 32, chipping one from Nash straight to Yardy at mid-on, after a stand of 62.

Sam Billings (18 not out) entered the fray with the hosts needing 35 runs from more than 25 overs and made his intent clear with three nice boundaries, but it was Bell-Drummond (55*) who passed 500 List A runs for Kent, reached his fifth List A half-century in 75 balls and saw his side over the line with 19 overs remaining.

Kent return to LV= County Championship Division 2 action on Tuesday with the visit of Northants to Canterbury.