An unbeaten century stand between Brendan Nash and Geraint Jones steered Kent Spitfires to their fourth successive Clydesdale Bank 40 Group C victory, a five-wicket triumph against Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road on Sunday.

The win keeps them in contention for the semi-finals, behind leaders Sussex Sharks and Warwickshire Bears, who also both won.

The pair came together with Kent in trouble on 126-5, needing 233 to win, but they transformed the innings. Nash (70 not out) and Jones (52 not out) added 107 in 18 overs to complete the victory with eight balls to spare.

Nash hit seven fours in his 52-ball innings, while Jones (pictured) made his runs off 45 balls (four fours) - the Kent beneficiary involved in his second three-figure stand in successive weeks, having helped Sam Billings bat Spitfires out of trouble against Derbyshire.

Earlier Con De Lange took 3-35, removing Rob Key (27), Sam Northeast (44) and Alex Blake (8), with Billings and Darren Stevens also going cheaply.

Steelbacks, who won the toss, made 232-9 from their 40 overs. Captain Alex Wakely hit 74 from 76 balls and youngster Christian Davis scored 54 off 50, while Matt Coles - expensive early on - finished with 3-45.

Stevens, who took 2-36, claimed his wickets in three balls – having David Sales leg before for 15 and former Kent wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien for a duck. Simon Cook and James Tredwell were the other wicket-takers.

The Spitfires will go top of the group if they beat Yorkshire Carnegie under lights at Canterbury on Wednesday.