Kent suffered relegation from LV= Division 1 despite a brave late fight to beat Yorkshire at Headingley.

With the hosts still harbouring outside chances of snatching the title, Kent needed victory and for last week's conquerers Hampshire to do them a favour by beating Warwickshire at the Rose Bowl in order to avoid an immediate return to Division 2.

Martin van Jaarsveld hit 89 and Alex Blake (pictured) cracked his maiden century, scoring 105 of Kent's 302 with the University student and Dewald Nel adding 41 for the final wicket.

Nel had earlier taken 6-62 as the hosts rallied from 93-5 to post 261.

Kent then put themselves in sight of victory as 11 wickets fell in just 50 minutes of play on the final moning.

James Tredwell ripped the hosts apart with 7-22 including a hat-trick, inside seven overs as Yorkshire were dismissed for 130 in their second innings, having breezed to 93-1.

Nel also took three wickets to finish with nine for the match, with Tredwell finishing with match figures of 8-22. Picture: Ady Kerry

Needing 90 for the win Kent made a stuttering start with Joe Denly and Sam Northeast departing with the scoreboard showing six, but Rob Key and Martin van Jaarsveld combined to steer the visitors towards their target with a third-wicket partnership of 62.

A late flurry of wickets saw Kent stumble from 68-2 to 82-6, but they eventually secured a four wicket win.

However their heroics were in vain as Hamshire capitulated against Warwickshire the week after sealing their own safety by beating Kent.

The visitors amassed a first-innings lead of 85 before dismissing the hosts for 132 just after lunch on the final day leaving Warwickshire to rattle off the runs required without losing a wicket.

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