KENT'S hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages of this year's Friends Provident Trophy received a huge boost with Sunday's nervy three-wicket win over Essex in Chelmsford.

Set to chase an Essex total of 234 in 50 overs, Spitfires edged home with two balls to spare but only after an attack of jitters.

A fifth-wicket stand of 113 in 24 overs between skipper Rob Key (45) and Matt Walker had Kent in command but then Key went run out, Walker leg before for an excellent 58 and Joe Denly became the fourth run out victim of the innings with eight still needed from the last two overs.

It eventually took a huge Ryan McLaren six out of the ground over mid-wicket in Ryan ten Doeschate's final over of the game to seal it.

The target initially looked a comfortable one from for Kent's strong batting order as openers Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens rattled to 31 with Jones looking good for 17 until unluckily steering a wide ball from Andre Nel to third-man.

Newly arrived Andrew Hall got off the mark with a couple of typically punchy drives, but he then went lbw to a Ravi Bopara shooter.

Stevens moved to a belligerent 45-ball half-century with a straight six off Graham Napier, but he then became the first of four run out victims when slipping in backing up.

In the very next over Martin van Jaasrveld (14) suffered the same fate when, after being sent back by Key, Tom Phillips threw down the non-striker's stumps with a direct hit from square-leg.

With Key and the experienced Walker in tandem, Kent required 99 from their last 20 overs with six wickets in hand - an equation that just about proved within their compass.

Earlier, Eagles made an emphatic start with a 54 opening stand between home skipper Ronnie Irani and England opener Alastair Cook (16), after which Essex picked up an even keener pace through Irani.

Playing superbly off the front foot, "Big Ron" went on to clatter 11 fours and brace of sixes, one of them out of the ground and into the gardens at the Hayes Close End. It never came back.

Though no longer able to bowl after knee surgery, Irani's batting has improved immeasurably in recent seasons and Kent were clearly delighted to see the back of him for 81 off 100 balls after edging an attempted run down off Simon Cook into the gloves of Jones.

Little did Spitfires know then that Irani's departure would spark a dramatic turn around and a collapse that saw the Eagles lose their last eight wickets for 74 runs in the space of 18 overs.

Credit to Kent's bowlers for tightening up their act, Arafat and new boy Hall polished up their acts after shaky first stints, while McLaren, though a tad expensive, always looked likely to take wickets.

In the end Hall finished with two for 31, Arafat and McLaren three apiece, and Cook a very respectable two for 39, figures that might have been even better had van Jaarsveld clung on to a diving chance at cover when Bopara was on 10.

In the end the England World Cup all-rounder reached 56 before Arafat sent him packing as Essex, dismissed within 48 overs, failed to use up the final 13 balls of their innings.

Spitfires return to Trophy action on Monday when they take on Middlesex at St Lawrence.

SCORES Essex 234 all out after 47.5 overs. Kent 237 for seven after 49.4 overs. Kent win by three wickets.