Kent took a giant step towards securing their Division 1 status by completing a 77-run victory over Hampshire in the LV= Insurance County Championship on Thursday afternoon.

Half-centuries from James Vince and James Fuller (78 not out) gave Hampshire some hope of chasing down an unlikely target of 378 but Kent kept nagging away and Nathan Gilchrist stepped up with 4-60 to secure a massive win.

It was quite a recovery from Kent, who were 32-5 on day one after being put into bat and it sets up a huge clash at home to Somerset in Kent's final game of the season from Monday at Canterbury.

Head coach Matt Walker said: "We are extremely proud, that is the feeling that is emanating around the dressing from everybody. There is a sense of pride about that and winning a four-day match like that is the best feeling.

"It has been a good team performance. There has been individual performances in most games but everybody played a part in this game. In a game like that you need everyone to come to the party.

"From the situation we were in at 32-5 to win that match is a great effort. The innings from Ben Compton was enormous in the context of the game and then the response from the guys with the ball was fantastic. The performance from Jack [Leaning] after that was truly special.

"Whenever James Vince is at the crease you are worried he could do something special. He was the wicket we were desperate for and then when that happened we felt a big step closer to the win.

"You never know until it is over but you felt once that wicket happened the ship had started to sink.

"We had to win. We came here with seven players out, so taking all that in consideration it is a hell of a win against a side pushing for the title.

"This game and the last game are really big games and we've crossed this one off with a win which has given us a chance. We're going to need a similar performance next week."

Resuming on 105-4, Hampshire lost two wickets in the first half-hour on day three.

Joe Weatherley had been the shining light with the bat late on day two but he added only two runs to his overnight 54 before being trapped leg before by Gilchrist. Two overs later, Ben Brown clipped Gilchrist straight to square leg.

Hampshire were 146-7 when Conor McKerr, on loan from Surrey, trapped Aneurin Donald leg before for 14.

Vince, who hit the first ball of the day for four with a trademark cover drive, moved to his sixth half-century of the season off 81 balls with a dabbed three down to third man.

He put on 90 with Fuller either side of lunch but Vince fell to the part-time bowling of Kent's stand-in captain Jack Leaning, who he pulled straight to Tawanda Muyeye at deep mid-wicket for 73 and Hampshire were 236-8.

Kent were keen to drag back a slow over rate so Leaning continued to bowl before the second new ball was due, and Kyle Abbott was undone by bounce out of the footholds to loop to Harry Finch at first slip.

Fuller continued to counter-punch as Hampshire added 40 runs in six overs but Kent ensured there were no late heroics when Mohammad Abbas had his off-stump knocked over by Gilchrist.

The defeat was Hampshire’s first at home in the Championship since losing to Somerset last May - a run of 10 victories - and just their second since the start of the 2019 season.