Kent Spitfires suffered their first loss in NatWest T20 Blast South Group on Thursday night with a dramatic nine-run loss at Hampshire.

Matt Coles produced a career-best spell with the ball, claiming 4-27 as the hosts were restricted to 158-8 and Daniel Bell-Drummond continued his blistering form with another half-century but Kent fell narrowly short in a dramatic encounter at the Ageas Bowl.

A bright start to the Spitfires reply was undone by the loss of three wickets in just 13 balls amid a five-over spell without a boundary.

Joe Denly was bowled for 31 from 27 balls by Liam Dawson (1-27) to end a 75-run partnership with Bell-Drummond for the opening wicket in 58 balls.

Skipper Sam Northeast was bowled by Shahid Afridi (3-33) for two in the next over and the returning Sam Billings departed for three just six balls later leaving Kent needing 73 runs from the final 49 balls to win.

Darren Stevens joined Bell-Drummond and Kent were still well in the game but despite hitting a six and four from consecutive deliveries the all-rounder was trapped LBW by Darren Sammy in the next over for 18.

Alex Blake was caught and bowled by the West Indies captain from the very next, slower, ball, and though Fabian Cowdrey saw-off the hat-trick ball, 47 runs were still needed from the final five overs.

Bell-Drummond helped himself to 10 off the following over from Gareth Berg but was stumped by Wheater off an Afridi wide to end a superb knock of 64 from 52 balls in the following over with Kent still 28 runs short of victory.

Coles was another to fall first-ball when he skied to Dawson off Afridi's next delivery though Cowdrey saw-off a hat-trick ball for the second time in the match.

Kent needed 26 from the final three overs but when Cowdrey (8) was trapped playing across the line to Gareth Andrew the game was all but up.

James Tredwell departed for three, clean bowled by Tino Best with six balls remaining and 16 runs required of David Griffiths and Ivan Thomas.

Griffiths smashed the first ball of the final over from Berg for six, but was dismissed two balls later to leave Kent 149 all-out and with a win and a loss from their opening two games.

Earlier former Kent man Michael Carberry spent more than 17 overs in the middle for his 54 before falling to Thomas (2-42).

Jimmy Adams added a lively 18 but the hosts were 112-4 with 25 balls to come and only Sammy's 27 from 15 balls and 10 from Dawson saw them reach 158-8 at the close.

Coles' figures of 4-27 from four beat his previous career best of 3-14.

Kent return to T20 action against Gloucestershire at Beckenham on Friday evening (5.30pm).