Zak Crawley scored a quickfire century to guide Kent to a seven-wicket victory over Hampshire in the Bob Willis Trophy on Tuesday.

But it was not enough to secure a place in the competition's final, as Essex defeated Middlesex earlier in the day to seal top spot in the South Group.

Crawley's previous first-class match saw him hit a magnificent 267 for England against Pakistan.

He was out for an eight-ball duck in the first innings of a low-scoring contest at Canterbury but looked a class apart on day three as he scored 18 boundaries in his 105 off 100 balls, eventually trapped in front by Mason Crane while attempting a sweep.

Earlier in the day, Kent took the last five Hampshire wickets for just 51 runs, giving them a victory target of 181. Harry Podmore took 5-43 and Darren Stevens claimed 4-35.

Kent lost skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond to the last ball before lunch but Crawley - alongside Marcus O’Riordan - put Kent in command.

Crawley went with just 16 more runs needed, and Jack Leaning was bowled by the pace of rookie paceman Ajeet Dale. But Heino Kuhn completed the win with a massive six off Crane, alongside O'Riordan who made his maiden first-class half-century (52 not out).

Hampshire had made 191 after being inserted by the hosts, Stevens' 5-37 ripping through their middle order after openers Joe Weatherley (37) and Ian Holland (42) had put on 69 for the first wicket.

O'Riordan top scored in Kent's reply with an invaluable 37 while Kuhn hit 34 as they recovered from 30-4 and then 123-9 to make 170 all out, Podmore finishing 30 not out.

Podmore and Stevens then reduced Hampshire to 23-5 in their second innings and it needed 68 by Tom Scriven to see them up to 159.

Kent finish the Bob Willis Trophy with three wins from five games, defeat to Essex in the first match proving costly in the end.

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