Kent Spitfires’ quest for the knockout stages of the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition suffered a blow with a 29-run defeat against Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Tunbridge Wells on Sunday evening.

In the final action of the 101 Festival Week, Kent won the toss and chose to bowl, as they had done in their triumphant run-chase against the Netherlands on Monday.

However the Steelbacks proved a cut above the Dutch and compiled an intimidating total of 263-4 from their 40 overs on another superb batting track at the Nevill Ground.

Veteran David Sales (15) departed with the score on 44 and Kyle Coetzer didn’t linger for his 10, with Darren Stevens and Adam Riley collecting scalps within minutes of entering the action.

However opener Rob Newton and Alex Wakely then produced a superb display of batting, taking the score from 70-2 to 214-2 before Newton was forced to retire hurt with suspected ligament damage which required lengthy treatment.

His 88 from 103 balls featured two sixes and eight fours but he was put in the shade by Wakely, who clubbed four big sixes and seven fours in a blistering 76-ball century, only to fall to the very next delivery from Calum Haggett, holing out to Stevens for 102.

David Willey was caught by Sam Billings off Matt Coles for 13, but had cracked a six and a four in his five minute stint which helped accelerate the scoring in the final 10 overs and left Kent with the daunting target of 264 to win.

Despite missing this week's double-centurion Rob Key due to a muscle injury, the recalled Billings and Sam Northeast got the Spitfires off to a breezy start with some lovely shots before Northeast went to a fine catch from James Middlebrook off Lee Daggett following a lively 41.

Brendan Nash made a classy 32 before being caught by David Murphy while Billings lingered longer for his morale-boosting 57 before being bowled by Daggett.

At 137-3 Kent were still in with a chance but Ben Harmison (3) went cheaply while Stevens (10) was run-out seeking an aggressive second to leave it 149-5 after a run of four wickets for the addition of just 17 runs.

Alex Blake provided the last glimmer of hope for the hosts with a swashbuckling 43 which featured a six and seven fours to bring the crowd of more than 3,000 to their feet, however with the required run-rate climbing into double-figures, his departure 63 runs short of the target effectively signalled the end for Kent.

After Geraint Jones had departed for 13, Coles flashed a rapid cameo of 21 with a six and three fours but he was stumped going for another big shot and Adam Ball (1) and Haggett (2) soon followed him back to the pavilion as the Spitfires were bowled out with two balls remaining. Aussie paceman Trent Copeland finished with a tidy 4-46 from eight overs.

The win took Northants up to third, within a point of second-placed Kent in Group A, having played a game fewer, while leaders Notts are two points clear of the Spitfires with two games in hand.