Charlie Shreck took match figures of 9-140 as Kent’s LV=County Championship Division Two promotion hopes suffered a setback with a two wicket defeat by leaders Derbyshire on Sunday.

The victory at the Racecourse Ground, achieved soon after lunch, stretched their advantage over Rob Key’s men in third place to 31 points, as a missed chance and late order resistance, frustrated Kent for the second time in a week, on the way to a first four-day defeat of the season.

Derbyshire began the final day on 168-2, needing another 127 to win, but then lost four wickets for 18, as they slipped from 197-2 to 215-6, still 83 runs short of their target.

Dan Redfern, dropped on 1 by Key, a hard chance close-in off Matt Coles, survived. The Kent skipper was later forced off with a knee injury, leaving Geraint Jones in charge. He received useful support from John Clare and Tony Palladino, both stands adding 21, before the latter went at 257-8, with 38 still needed.

Tim Groenewald, a reported target for Kent last season, stayed to make 20 not out, before Redfern scored the winning boundary off Mark Davies, to finish unbeaten on 50, Derbyshire finishing on 298-8.

Shreck (pictured) finished on 4-99, following up his first innings 5-41.

Kent looked in command with a first innings lead of 133, but wasted the advantage – Key battling his way to 81 in a disappointing total of 161, former Kent loan man Palladino. finishing with a career best of 7-53.