Kent allowed another winning position to slip in the Royal London One-Day Cup as they crashed to an 11-run defeat against Gloucestershire at Bristol on Wednesday evening.

It was a fourth defeat in five matches for the Spitfires and effectively ended their chances of reaching the top three of South Group and securing a place in the knockout stages for the third time in four years.

Michael Klinger’s 134 looked to have paved the way for a challenging Gloucestershire total after they have been asked to bat first. But a flurry of late wickets saw Matt Coles finish with 4-57 and the hosts restricted to 275/8, no more than a par score in the glorious conditions.

It didn’t look like proving enough as Daniel Bell-Drummond followed up his tons against Somerset and Sussex with 90 off 108 balls, including eight fours. With Sean Dickson (50) and Sam Northeast (44) lending good support, Kent looked to be cruising home.

However Chris Liddle had other ideas and from 200/2 in the 39th over, the visitors collapsed spectacularly, closing on 264-9 with Liddle claiming 5-36.

Klinger reached his 16th List A hundred off 123 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, to help take the home side’s score to 260/3 before he was out.

Chris Dent (43) and Ian Cockbain (35) shared useful partnerships, but when Klinger was caught at deep mid-wicket off in-form Joe Denly it signalled a rapid transformation in fortunes.

Gloucestershire lost five wickets for the addition of just 15 runs in 14 balls as Coles and James Harris (2-28) put themselves on hat-tricks.

A target of 276 looked within the Spitfires' reach but they lost Joe Denly to a careless shot off Liddle with the total on 64.

Bell-Drummond, who survived a couple of early scares, and Dickson then put together a stand of 89 in 17.3 overs.

Dickson perished the ball after reaching a 62-ball half-century, with three fours and a six, picking out George Haskins at deep mid-wicket to give left-arm spinner Tom Smith a wicket.

By the time Bell-Drummond was brilliantly caught low down by Klinger at extra-cover off Liddle, Kent were on 200 and needed a further 76 from 11.4 overs.

Northeast was established and cracked four big sixes though Darren Stevens was visibly angry with himself when caught behind off Liddle trying to run the ball down to third-man and at 217-4, Kent were far from comfortable.

Soon it was Northeast trudging back to the pavilion having smashed Liddle straight to long-on where Jack Taylor took the catch. From looking in total command, the visitors were suddenly under pressure at 220-5.

More poor shots accounted for Coles (4) and Alex Blake (8) and Gloucestershire sensed their chance as Harris (5) and Tredwell (0) continued the procession with only Adam Rouse (23 not out) sticking around until the death.

Kent visit Surrey on Friday before Sunday's game at Glamorgan and their final game, at home to Essex on Wednesday.