Darren Stevens put Hampshire Hawks to the sword for the second time in a week to send Kent through to the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals on Friday night.

Stevens (pictured) hit an unbeaten 62, including four fours and two sixes, to help Spitfires to a seven-wicket win at The Rose Bowl – following up his match-winning 56 at Tunbridge Wells earlier in the week.

A crowd of more than 10,000 saw Kent book their place in the last eight after restricting the Hawks to just 131-7.

Skipper Rob Key set the tone in the field with a good catch at short extra cover to dismiss Jimmy Adams in the second over and former Kent bat Michael Carberry quickly followed.

When Michael Lumb and Sean Ervine both went attempting big shots, Hampshire were struggling at 28-4. Their misery continued as Liam Dawson and Chris Benham were dismissed in successive overs to leave them 42-6. Ryan McLaren was the pick of the Kent attack with 2-17 from three overs.

England international Dimi Mascarenhas came to his side’s rescue with an unbeaten 45 and, with good support from Nic Pothas (21) and Dominic Cork (18 not out), gave Hampshire a respectable score to defend after nearly 50 runs came from the last four overs.

It looked as though it was game on for the hosts when Key and Joe Denly were both dismissed cheaply and the Spitfires were struggling at 34-3 when Martin van Jaarsveld was bowled by Chris Tremlett’s first delivery.

Geraint Jones was dropped at first slip in the next over by Cork when he had only made three, and Jones made him pay by going on to make a cautious 35 not out.

Stevens, at the other end, took the game to the Hawks attack and was the only batsman on view to look comfortable.

His impressive half-century took Kent to victory with 13 balls to spare.

Jones told the club’s official website: "It was great to get the victory and it was especially good to win at the Rose Bowl.

"I don’t think the Hawks had been beaten at home in Twenty20 this season so it shows just what a good side we are in this form of the game.

"We got off to a great start, getting the early wickets, and I always felt we were in with a good chance at the halfway stage – even though they got a few more at the end than what we were hoping.

"We then lost a few wickets ourselves but Darren Stevens and I were able to steady things."