Darren Stevens cracked an unbeaten 136 to help Kent secure a once unlikely last-day win over Essex by a whopping 192 runs on Saturday.

After stand-in skipper Martin van Jaarsveld won the toss and elected to field, Essex made a strong start with England’s Alastair Cook, notching 41 and Matt Walker, beginning his first season away from Kent, putting on a fine show againast his old teammates, knocking 14 fours before falling just two runs short of a fairytale century when he was trapped LBW by Robbie Joseph.

Wicketkeeper James Foster fell one short of three figures, nicking a Martin Saggers delivery to Geraint Jones after a 99, which included 13 fours and two sixes.

But Essex’s last six wickets fell for just 61 runs with new boy Wayne Parnell accounting for two of them, finishing with figures of 4-78, while Saggers weighed-in with 3-45 and Joseph with 2-104.

However Kent were forced to follow-on after a disappointing reply, Joe Denly going for a duck, Jones scoring only one and James Tredwell 10 as the visitors were reduced to 19-3.

Van Jaarsveld hit 35 before being run-out, but only 46 off 56 balls from James Hockley and an excellent 69 off 80 deliveries by Parnell gave the total of 205 some respectability.

The second innings was far better with Tredwell compiling a ponderous 79 and Jones rattling 45 while Van Jaarsveld amassed a fine 102 off just 146 balls with 14 fours.

Stevens (pictured above) took his lead from the South African and followed-up with a sizzling unbeaten 136 with 13 fours and two sixes.

Hockley added another 72 as Kent declared on 512-9 with a lead of 347.

Parnell and Joseph combined to rip through the Essex line-up, humbling them for 155 in 57 overs.

The pair took two wickets each as the home side were reduced to 34-4 and Joseph finished with 6-55 off 13 while Parnell contributed 3-56 off 19.

* Kent skipper Rob Key enjoyed mixed fortunes as he captained the England Lions team which thrashed the West Indies by 10 wickets at Derby.

After seeing his side dismiss the tourists for 203, Key opened the reply but went for a golden duck, trapped LBW by Jerome Taylor.

England eventually amassed a first innings lead of 108 and after skittling the West Indians for 178 in their second innings, only needed to rattle off 70 runs to win.

Key made an unbeaten 33 off 29 balls as the Lions reached their target inside 10 overs.