A LIMITED OVERS' career-best knock of 119 by Essex opening bat Mark Pettini coupled with a thrilling 99 off 87 balls from England all-rounder Ravi Bopara ensured an afternoon of leather-chasing for Kent in their opening Friends Provident Trophy tie of the summer.

The Eagles batsmen seemed able to play their shots despite a damp and slow St Lawrence pitch making the Spitfires' attack look pretty mundane and limited as they piled on 317 for five from their 50 overs.

The hosts made their first breakthrough courtesy of a run out when Joe Denly sent Jason Gallian packing with a direct hit from mid-wicket to the non-strikers end, but Spitfires were then made to wait a further 28 overs for their next success.

In that time Bopara and Pettini added an attractive 181 for the second wicket until Bopara, one short of a deserved ton, edged leg-side against Yasir Arafat to give Geraint Jones a simple catch stood back.

Ryan ten Doeschate (22) holed out to deep cover off Ryan McLaren then, next ball, Pettini eventually went after 166-balls when nicking a drive to Geraint Jones.

Tim Phillips survived McLaren's hat-trick ball and the late slog to take the visitors total beyond 300 and leave Kent with a mountain to climb.