Rob Key’s defiant second-innings knock of 162 was not quite enough to steer his side to an unlikely victory over Surrey at the Oval in LV= County Championship Division 2.

Key’s was the penultimate wicket to fall in the second innings, bowled around his legs by debutant spinner Zafar Ansari attempting a sweep.

He had expertly rotated the strike with Robbie Joseph on the final morning, which Kent began 52 adrift on 270-8.

Once Key had departed, Joseph nudged Kent to 300, only for last-man Ashley Shaw to glove a simple chance to short-leg for a duck to spell a 21-run defeat.

Shaw had taken a wicket with Wahab Riaz, debutant David Balcombe and Martin van Jaarsveld claiming two apiece and Joe Denly notching three as the hosts piled on 387 runs in their first innings.

Kent were grateful to a seventh-wicket partership of 138 between Geraint Jones (61) and Alex Blake, who made a fine 96 before being run-out as the last man, as they reached 250, narrowly avoiding the follow-on.

Balcombe then notched his first Kent five-fer as the hosts were ripped out for 184, finishing with 5-63 off 21.3 overs and with seven wickets for his first Championship match for Kent.

Denly added 3-43 to finish with six, but could only contribute one run as Kent’s second innings began slowly.

Key received some support from van Jaarsveld (35) and Blake (36) but his side ultimately fell short.