KENT’S disappointing start to the 2003 campaign continued with a three-wicket National League defeat at the hands of newly promoted Essex Eagles.

A recurring and worrying trend of underachievement and fragile confidence is starting to emerge from Kent’s threadbare early season performances and improvements must come soon to prevent a season of survival rather than one of silverware.

On a used and crumbling Chelmsford pitch Spitfires correctly opted to bat first, but that’s just about where their luck ran out.

As with most of their batting performances to date Kent were again unable to post a defendable total after losing half their side for 33 runs.

True enough, their 45-over total of 176 all out represented a decent fight-back, but was still 30 to 40 short of par for the course.

It was left to the new kids on the Kent block, Michael Carberry (37), Peter Trego (26), James Tredwell (29) and Geraint Jones (21) to show some mettle after the old guard at the top of the batting order failed.

Mark Ealham perished at his first attempt at hitting over the top and Ed Smith again played so far outside the line as to leave his front pad flush in front and fully exposed to another leg before appeal.

Overseas locum Greg Blewett looked uncomfortable against the seaming ball and failed to trouble while Rob Key got off to a start only to edge an excellent leg-cutter from Graham Napier.

While Napier bagged three for nine, Eagles skipper Ronnie Irani came into the attack to snare Matthew Walker with a wide half-volley that the left-hander might well have left alone.

It was left to winter recruits Carberry and Trego to re-group with a spirited sixth wicket stand of 55 in 13 overs.

Trego, strong off the back foot and keen to make his mark, dominated the partnership with four fours, while Carberry overcame a tentative spell against spinner James Middlebrook to top-score with 37.

Trego became Middlebrook’s sole victim, while Carberry was very unfortunate to go leg before to Scott Brant despite a thick inside edge.

There were sufficient overs left in the tank for a James Tredwell cameo and a first six, then gritty little knocks from Jones and Saggers inside the last 10 overs but Kent were still short of an acceptable total.

If they were to defend an asking rate of under four an over Spitfires had to make an impressive start in the field but once again they were found wanting.

Martin Saggers overstrained in his bid to take wickets and lost accuracy as a result while at the Town End Ben Trott initially had trouble finding the right length bowling into a stiff breeze.

By the time he did Essex and their man mountain opener Will Jefferson (35) had clattered 41 within eight overs and were well on the way to victory.

To his credit Trott recovered well from his early pummelling to claim three for one in the space of five balls including the prized scalps of Nasser Hussain (7) and overseas star Andy Flower without scoring.

Saggers found a decent ball to remove Irani and Smith played a part in two dismissals by catching James Foster and running out the lame Darren Robinson through his gangly runner, Jefferson, with a direct hit from long-on.

At 137 for seven Kent went into their post-wicket huddle with a whiff of victory still in their nostrils, but man-of-the-match Napier and all-rounder Middlebrook were having none of it.

The return of Saggers three overs from the scheduled end clinched the result for Essex as Middlebrook rocked back to pull the first ball for six and then lent on the next one to dispatch it to the ropes at extra cover.

Eagles deservedly duly swooped for victory two overs from the end to move up to third in the Division 1 table, leaving Spitfires to look nervously over their shoulders into the drop zone.