SPITFIRES cut Leicestershire's lead at the top of the Norwich Union League first division to two points after surviving yet another last ball finish to land a eight-run win against Yorkshire at the St Lawrence ground last night.

Just two days after their last gasp win over Gloucestershire in Bristol, Kent successfully defended a disappointing 45-over total of 216 courtesy of three wickets in four balls of the final over of the game from Martin Saggers.

With Phoenix needing 13 runs for a much-needed victory that would have hauled them clear of the relegation dogfight, Saggers ran in from the Pavilion End to send the crowd into raptures.

The former Durham paceman removed the off stump of David Byas with his second ball, yorked Richard Dawson with his next and then had Richard Blakey caught at long-off to secure Kent's ninth win of the campaign.

The hosts looked as good as beaten at the mid-way point of the reply as Darren Lehmann and Anthony McGrath reached 89 for two, but in-form Lehmann's misjudged reverse sweep against Min Patel led to a top-edged catch at fly-slip by Mark Ealham.

McGrath, who was dropped on seven after skying a chance to deep cover, led the recovery by way of a fourth wicket stand worth 108 in 21 overs with Craig White.

Just 62 were required with 10 overs to go and, with seven wickets in hand, a partisan St Lawrence crowd of 4,000 were watching in silence as their title hopes seemingly slid away.

But then White holed out to long-off and McGrath, after reaching his maiden league century from 139-balls, ran himself out to revive Kent's victory and title hopes once again.

Earlier, Kent were probably 20 short of what they perceived to be a defendable total as only James Hockley with 66 from 82-balls managed to post a half-century on a slow but true pitch.

Hockley was one of three wickets taken by Lehmann's off-spinners in a burst of three for five in eight balls that ripped the heart out of the home middle order batting.