Joe Denly became only the third batsman to pass 5,000 T20 Blast runs after guiding Kent Spitfires to a fifth straight win on Thursday.

Denly joined James Vince and Luke Wright in an elite club after a breathtaking 76 in just 32 balls at Chelmsford was enough to sink Essex in the Vitality Blast South Group.

It was Denly’s 39th T20 half-century and he overtook Wright to move just behind Vince in the all-time run-scoring list - he is now up 5,050 runs in the competition.

Denly dominated a 110-run second-wicket partnership in just over nine overs alongside the in-form Daniel Bell Drummond.

Chasing Essex’s total of 184 all out, Kent lost Tawanda Muyeye to a top-edged behind in the third over for 12.

Amongst Denly’s onslaught, Bell-Drummond was classily ticking through his repertoire in a 35-ball fifty. He now has 476 runs in 11 innings this summer, with five half-centuries.

Sam Billings was caught at long off for 13, but Bell-Drummond his eight fours in an unbeaten 69 and a 12-ball 20 cameo from Jordan Cox got them over the line with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier, Essex were asked to bat and, for the fourth time in five games, they lost three wickets in the powerplay.

Feroze Khushi skied to mid on where Wes Agar brilliantly caught off George Linde in the second over. Michael Pepper (20) and Robin Das (10) departed to Agar and Grant Stewart, leaving the hosts 55-3 after six overs.

Paul Walter was dropped before he was pinned lbw in Jack Leaning’s only over of the night for three.

Opener Dan Lawrence was often scratchy but amassed eight fours and a wonderfully-timed six over mid-on in his 33-ball fifty.

He and Matt Critchley had rebuilt with a 57-run stand but both fell within three balls of each other, with Daniel Sams only facing six balls before edging Stewart (2-41) behind for three.

From 142-7 in the 17th over, Simon Harmer and Will Buttleman put on 40 together in 16 balls, with Stewart taking the brunt in a 28-run over but they lost three wickets for two runs in the final over, bowled by Michael Hogan (2-29). There were also two wickets for Agar (2-30) and Linde (2-32).

Kent are now level on points with fourth-placed Hampshire in the table. The Spitfires host Middlesex, who won a run fest at Surrey on Thursday, at Canterbury on Friday evening. Hampshire host third-place Essex on the same evening.