Rain proved the only winner at Tunbridge Wells as Kent Spitfires' Clydesdale Bank40 game against Northamptonshire Steelbacks was abandoned.

Set a revised target of 203 from 32 overs, Kent reached six for no wicket when the rain returned for a second time. Hopes of a resumption at 6.30pm proved impossible and both teams had to settle for one point.

Spitfires made a good start after Rob Key won the toss and put the Steelbacks in by reducing the visitors to 36-3 following the dismissals of David Willey and James Middlebrook to Darren Stevens, while Kyle Coetzer was picked up by Matt Coles.

A fourth wicket stand between skipper Alex Wakely (42) and former Kent wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien (46) put on 74 in 17 overs, before James Tredwell made the breakthrough by trapping Wakely lbw to end his 47-ball knock which included three sixes and two fours.

O'Brien became Coles' second victim, first ball back after rain, before Rob Keogh (23 not out) and David Murphy (18 not out) claimed 31 off the final three overs with Adam Ball conceding 16, as Northants finished on 168-5 from 32 overs.

Sam Billings hit former Sri Lankan test star Chaminda Vaas for four before the weather intervened again as the Spitfires suffered their second successive wash-out in the competition and left Kent officials counting the cost financially.

Picture: Barry Goodwin