Kent's Championship promotion hopes were dealt a blow as they suffered a four-wicket defeat at rivals Worcester in the final session on Thursday afternoon.

Despite Kent conceding a 76-run first innings deficit, Joe Denly's superb career-best 227 on the penultimate evening had put the visitors in a strong position, setting the hosts 399 to win on a fourth day wicket at New Road.

However on a flat surface 142 from Daryl Mitchell and an unbeaten 110 from Joe Clarke - his second century of the match - inspired the hosts to victory, though leg-spinner Yasir Shah did pick up his maiden five-wicket haul on the last afternoon as the hosts closed on their target.

The win saw Worcestershire claim 22 points to Kent's five to leapfrog Matt Walker's side in the Division 2 standings.

Despite opting to bat first, Kent suffered a slow start and were soon 76-4, with Sam Northeast the only one to pass 12.

He eventually fell for 42 while Darren Stevens added 39 but when he Kent looked in trouble at 139-7 from 44 overs.

Adam Rouse (34) and the swashbuckling Matt Coles with 47 guided their side past 200 and Yasir Shah (17) and Mitch Claydon (16 not out) ensured another crucial batting point before Kent were bowled out for 260 with Joe Leach and Josh Tongue claiming three scalps apiece.

Kent had their hosts in trouble at 48-3 in reply but Clarke and George Rhodes (45) added 131 for the fourth wicket.

Clarke went on to complete a superb 142 from 197 balls featuring 22 fours and guided his side to 330-7 before edging Coles to Rouse.

Coles then polished off the tail to claim a season's best 6-84 though Leach finished with a breezy unbeaten 57.

Daniel Bell-Drummond added a duck to his first innings single as Kent sought to wipe out the deficit and though Denly stood firm, his partners came and went at regular intervals.

At 205-6 Rouse joined him and the pair added a Kent record 149 for the seventh wicket before Rouse departed for 68.

Coles rattled another 39 and shared 54 with Denly to drag their side past 400 but Denly fell to Leach after an inspired knock which included 24 fours and five sixes in a knock which lasted seven hours and 48 minute in sweltering 30 degree-plus temperatures.

Yasir's 27 helped Kent post 474 late on day three and leave the hosts needing 399 to win, but the pitch continued to flatten out and Mitchell, Clarke and Moeen Ali (63 from 55 balls) put the hosts in control.

At 339-2 Yasir claimed a flurry of scalps to reduce the hosts to 355-5 and he completed his fivefer (5-132) bowling Ross Whiteley, trying to win it with two runs required, though Ed Barnard hit the next delivery for four to secure the vital win.