Kent's hopes of progressing beyond the Clydesdale Bank 40 group stages ended with a 31-run defeat against Derbyshire on Sunday.

Chasing 250 to win they slipped to 121-6, before Darren Stevens (pictured) kept the innings alive with a 52-ball 65, including three sixes and three fours, and then James Tredwell cracked two successive sixes in his quickfire 37 before falling next ball lbw to Chesney Hughes.

Last man David Balcombe was run-out in the next over to cap a poor week for the county.

Kent were up with the rate at 76-2, before skipper Martin van Jaarsveld was bowled for 29 and Sam Northeast run-out for 12.

Geraint Jones and Alex Blake then both fell to Jon Clare in the space of three balls to leave the Spitfires struggling.

Van Jaarsveld, again leading the side in the absence of injured Rob Key, put Derbyshire in, the home side reduced to 79-3 after a good start.

However, New Zealander Martin Guptill (102), with his first hundred for the county, and Greg Smith (68) added 129 in 19 overs for the fourth wicket with aggressive hitting.

But Azhar Mahmood then broke through by taking three for three in 11 balls as Derbyshire went from 208-4 to 249-9 in the space of six overs to finish with 4-57. Wahab Riaz claimed Guptill to end with figures of 3-45.