Kent's hopes of getting their opening game of the Friends Provident t20 competition against Sussex Sharks were thwarted by rain.

The match, moved from Tunbridge Wells to Canterbury due to heavy rain in west Kent earlier in the week, was abandoned shortly before 7pm as a result of a damp wicket and water in the surrounding areas at St Lawrence.

It will come as a significant blow to the county who have already anticipated losing as much as £50,000 as a result of the rain-ruined Tunbridge Wells Festival Week.

The Spitfires are due to return to action when they take on the Surrey Lions at Beckenham on Friday.