A Darren Stevens century was not enough for Kent as they went down by five wickets to Northamptonshire in the LV= County Championship at the St Lawrence Ground on Saturday.

Stevens (pictured right) hit 143 from 137 balls, including 16 fours and three sixes, in Kent’s second innings but Northants were left needing only 108 to win.

Kent won the toss, and batted first, but were dismissed inside the opening day.

Rob Key (pictured below) and Sam Northeast (17) put on 68 for the opening wicket, before the Kent skipper was removed for a 72-ball 50.

Geraint Jones fell one run short of reaching a half-century, while Martin van Jaarsveld, playing against his former county, contributed a 93-ball half-century before going for 67.

Kent’s tail then collapsed for only 47 runs, leaving them all out for 280.

Former Kent players Andrew Hall and Niall O’Brien put Northants in control on the second day.

Stephen Peters (33), who was dropped by Stevens from the fifth ball of the day, put on an opening stand of 73 with Mal Loye (40). Peters became debutant bowler Neil Saker’s first wicket, who also then accounted for Loye.

Rob White (54) hit 50 from 31 balls and, with Alex Wakely (43), added 59 in 10 overs for the third wicket.

But it was Hall and O’Brien who really turned the game. O’Brien hit 62 from 92 balls and shared a 89-run partnership with Hall.

Chaminda Vaas then joined Hall with the pair enjoyed a 134-run stand. Their partnership last eight overs into day three, before Vass was caught by Jones off Stevens for 66.

Hall made exactly 100 as Northhants were all out for 493.

Following a 59-run opening stand between Key and Northeast, Kent found themselves struggling at 118-6 in their second innings.

Stevens kept them in the game and, with Adam Ball adding 30 in a 98-run partnership, Kent totalled 320.

But Northants were able to get the required runs by mid-afternoon on the final day and, although James Tredwell struck three times, they reached 108-5.

Pictures: Barry Goodwin