Jimmy Adams hailed Kent’s world record breaking run-chase as a ‘special night’ and said he hopes the club can use it to kick-start their season.

Facing the daunting prospect of chasing 337 to win Wednesday night’s Yorkshire Bank 40 Group A clash, centuries from Darren Stevens and Sam Northeast and a 37th Kent one-day half-century from Rob Key saw them to the winning post with three wickets and nine balls to spare.

A visibly delighted Adams said: “To have people of the calibre of Key, Stevens and Northeast stepping up to the plate on a challenge like this is very heartening. Hopefully we can go from strength to strength.

“It was special. I am happy to know it’s a world record. Hopefully we can keep building on this.”

He added: “It’s never easy when you have a score like that on the board but you hope people can stay calm and sort of back themselves in the present to be there or thereabouts an hour later.

“I lift my hat to young Northeast, he went in at the top, went through the tough period, then credit to Darren who took pressure off him in his own way.“

Stevens raced to three figures in a record 44 balls while Northeast’s century came from more than twice as many deliveries, however Adams said both knocks were equally important.

He said: “The strength of any team is diversity – we needed both innings. Darren changed the game within 15 overs while Sam stuck it out and made it close to the end and almost saw his team over the line. They are different, contrasting styles but both equally important.”

Adams said he hopes Kent can continue to harness Stevens’ form as they enter their t20 campaign, with tomorrow’s (Saturday) tour game with New Zealand at Canterbury preceding the visit of Middlesex to Canterbury on Friday night.

Adams said: “Darren’s been in good nick in recent weeks and it is just fantastic to see someone milking their form the way Darren is. With t20 coming up we can only hope the form continues.”