Kent top-scorer Geraint Jones hits out during his innings of 25 Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent's Friends Provident T20 hopes are hanging by a thread after an 84-run defeat against old foes Somerset Sabres at Beckenham on Sunday.

Spitfires captain Rob Key won the toss and put the visitors in, but despite Marcus Trescothick and Kieron Pollard departing cheaply, James Hildreth cracked an unbeaten 77 and Josh Buttler rattled 48 off 22 balls, including 16 off Malinga Bandara's final over to help the Sabres to 189-4.

With Kent always facing an uphill struggle infront of a crowd of around 4,000, they never really got going as Key and Alex Blake (pictured) both clubbed huge sixes, only to fall immediately afterwards.

The hosts were eventually dismissed for just 105 as Somerset repeated their victory over the Spitfires in last season's semi-final clash at Edgbaston and left the Spitfires with a challenge to finish in the top-four in the Southern section and secure a place in the knock-out stages.

Can the Spitfires still reach the knockout stages of the competition? Have your say below.