Kent are left needing to win their last LV County Championship game at Yorkshire next week to have any chance of avoiding an immediate return to Division 2, following defeat to Hampshire in their latest outing.

Rob Key’s (pictured) side suffered a 130-run loss to Hampshire at the St Lawrence Ground on Friday in a game that secured their opponents’ Division 1 status for another year.

Hampshire batted first and were all out for 204, with James Adams their top scorer with 84.

Malinga Bandara was the most successful of the Kent bowlers taking 4-42. Fellow spinner James Tredwell chipped in with two wickets as did Simon Cook.

Kent struggled in their first innings with only Joe Denly (42) and Martin van Jaarsveld (41) making any impact.

Hampshire’s top order were all amongst the runs in their second innings with half-centuries for Michael Carberry (56), Adams (52), Liam Dawson (50) and James Vince (68 not out).

The visitors finished on 355-9 declared as Bandara 4-99 added four more wickets to his haul and Darren Stevens took 3-51.

Opener Sam Northeast led the Kent run chase with 71 but at the other end wickets fell cheaply.

Stevens added 45 and Alex Blake 46 but it was not enough as Kent were all out for 247 five minutes from the end of the game.