Jack Leaning-inspired Kent Spitfires comfortably beat Essex Eagles in Canterbury on Sunday to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the Metro Bank One-Day Cup knockout stages.

He blasted a fine unbeaten century and also got among the wickets in a 60-run success.

“We, obviously, ended up with a really good score in the end,” Leaning said.

“We probably thought it was more towards a 300 pitch, we thought it was slightly better than the pitch on Thursday. So, when we lost those wickets in the middle, it was quite key one of us took stock and was there towards the end.

“We’ve probably fallen down in the last couple of games where we’ve missed out towards the back-end. But obviously, today was my day and I managed to get hold of a few at the end to get us to a really good score.

“Towards the back-end of the second innings, it started to spin quite a bit. We’ve got a nice formula for how we want to play our 50-over cricket and it’s worked again.”

On the difference between the two teams, fit-again captain Joe Denly said: “Jack Leaning, I think, springs to mind.

“We entered the back-end of our innings, having lost a bit of momentum. We thought 280-plus was a minimum on that wicket.

“He was sensational, wasn’t he? He guided that tail all the way through to the end and played probably one of the best knocks he’s ever played.

“To strike it like that, that was really phenomenal. I think it’s been building.

“He’s been in a really good place with his batting - just hasn’t kicked on - but thankfully, he was able to today.

“He got us to a really competitive score and I think the spinners especially were fantastic and our fielding was a real improvement on the last game.”

Kent made three changes - which saw an uncle-nephew duo play together for them for the first time in the club’s 153-year history.

Joe Denly replaced Daniel Bell-Drummond as he rejoined the London Spirit Hundred squad. Jas Singh came in for Nathan Gilchrist and Matt Quinn replaced Australian overseas all-rounder James Bazley.

The hosts had set a reasonable platform in front of a crowd of 2,400 at The Spitfire Ground until 37-year-old Denly under-edged Aaron Beard (2-73) to wicketkeeper Will Buttleman for 17 to leave them 32-1 in the seventh over.

But fellow opener Ben Compton appeared in a fluid mood and moved Kent to the 50-run mark in the 10th over with a pull to the boundary off Jamal Richards (1-33).

Both he and Leaning were busy between the wickets as they made it to 100-1 while 29-year-old Compton went to his half-century in the 23rd over, albeit fans had split focus with the Women’s World Cup Final involving England also being screened around the ground.

Compton was dismissed for 65, though, from Beau Webster (3-38), caught behind in the 26th over.

At this stage, 130-1 swiftly became 140-4, Alex Blake (1) and Harry Finch (7) going cheaply, the latter strangled down the leg-side off Beard.

But Leaning brought up his half-century in the 37th over. He was well supported by Jaydn Denly for 37 before 17-year-old Denly was bowled by Webster at the end of the 42nd over to leave them 213-5.

Kent wanted some Grant Stewart fireworks, only for the Italian international to be bowled by Aron Nijjar (2-50) - who has also played for Minster in the Kent League Premier Division this summer - for a golden duck.

It was a similar story for Hamid Qadri. He was caught for one by Webster off Nijjar and Quinn tamely went to mid-off for a third-ball duck, with Spitfires 218-8 in the 44th over.

But Leaning wasn’t done yet and a single brought up his ton at the end of the 48th over from 114 balls to leave them 247-8. He then nailed a free-hit into the leg-side for six off Ben Allison (0-56).

With Singh (2 not out) offering support, Leaning finished unbeaten on 137 from 127 balls. He blasted 27 off Beard’s final over of the innings, including three big leg-side maximums, to get Spitfires to 287-8 and Leaning to his highest List A total.

“It’s nice,” said Leaning. “I got my high [List A] score when I was actually quite young so it was about time I broke it, to be honest!”

That also meant the ninth-wicket stand was worth 69 runs from 38 legitimate balls and was unbroken.

The hosts opened with Leaning’s spin (2-32) from one end, although he only lasted an over to start with after he was clubbed for six by Feroze Khushi.

Essex had raced to 33-0 but a Jaydn Denly run-out saw Luc Benkenstein go for 14 before skipper Tom Westley was caught behind from Stewart (2-25) to leave them 40-2 in the seventh over.

Jaydn Denly (1-35) remained in the thick of it and had Webster caught at long-off by Blake for a 25-ball 26 in the 16th over.

Opener Khushi went to his half-century from 56 balls to leave them 99-3. From the next ball, however, Jaydn Denly took a sublime leg-side boundary catch off Matt Parkinson (2-43), who had changed ends. It appeared the teenager had little chance as Khushi slog-swept but he dived down low to take an incredible grab.

One player who wasn’t as impressed was his uncle who said: “He’s 17-years-old. He should be making those kinds of catches.”

Qadri (2-28) was introduced for the 28th over and got his first scalp nearly instantly when Noah Thain was easily caught by Stewart for 11, leaving the visitors with plenty still to do.

And having been hit for a maximum by Charlie Allison, he was trapped in front by Qadri to leave the home team 165-6 with more than 18 overs still left.

Buttleman and Ben Allison had looked fairly dangerous at the crease until Parkinson got the latter lbw for seven after a 36-run stand.

Soon after, player-of-the-match Leaning - returning to bowl - got Beard with the same method of dismissal for two and claimed another at the end of the 40th over after a sharp caught-and-bowled effort.

That left Bristol-born Leaning on a hat-trick but he was struck for six by Buttleman down the ground off that delivery.

Kent putting the seal on their success now appeared a matter of time though and, although Buttleman went to an unbeaten 50 in the 45th over, Nijjar holed out to substitute Gilchrist, 23, on the leg-side boundary off Stewart for nine.

On skippering his nephew, Joe Denly said: “It was pretty cool.

“I didn’t, really, think too much about it this morning, to be honest. I think I was more nervous for his first couple of games.

“You want him to look the part, and not look out of his depth, but he’s grown every game. His confidence is getting better and better.

“With the bat, I think that was a really mature innings that he played from the position we were in, hanging around with Jacko and getting a really good partnership there.

“He’s a really promising all-round cricketer with the ball, as well and – in the field –he got a great run-out and a great catch.

“I’m chuffed to bits for him.”

Simon Cook’s holders will qualify from Group A on number of wins, provided they’re victorious away to Hampshire on Tuesday and other results go their way as well.