Kent Spitfires suffered a 42-run defeat in their opening t20 match of the summer against the touring New Zealanders at an inclement Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on Saturday evening.

With strong, cold winds and squally showers, the game was played in conditions more commonly associated with early April than June. However the healthy crowd were treated to some fine performances with bat and ball.

Mitch Claydon claimed his first Kent five-wicket haul while there was another six-laden burst from Darren Stevens after his midweek heroics in the 40-over win against Sussex and an intriguing cameo from Fabian Cowdrey.

With full-time skipper James Tredwell away with England, preparing to face the Kiwis in two t20 games next week, and his stand-in Geraint Jones rested, Sam Northeast captained the side for the first time and after winning the toss chose to give spinner Adam Riley the first bowler.

Riley’s first delivery produced a leg before appeal against Hamish Rutherford but the New Zealand opener survived for only two balls when he was given out in identical fashion without a run on the board.

Dangerman Brendan McCullum was sent packing in the same vein by Claydon soon after to make it 9-2 but Ross Taylor (52) and Martin Guptil (52) spent 11 overs putting on an accomplished 98 for the third wicket before falling to the recalled Matt Coles and Claydon respectively.

Youngster Tom Latham made a scintillating 38 from 18 balls before becoming Claydon’s third victim with 13 balls remaining, as the visitors were reduced to 167-5. However, the on-loan Durham quick was handed the task of bowling the final over and added the scalps of Corey Anderson, caught by Riley for one, and Nathan McCullum, who played on for two, in the final over as the tourists posted 185-7.

Claydon finished with 5-31 off his four overs, his second five-wicket haul in 67 t20 matches.

The horizontal sheets of drizzle subsided after the Spitfires began their reply but none of the youthful Kent top order were able to stamp their mark on the game.

Opener Sam Billings (9) mis-timed one into the sky and Northeast took 10 balls to make his two before being clean bowled attempting a slog off Ronnie Hira.

Daniel Bell-Drummond showed flashes of his potential, cracking four fours before departing for a 29-ball 31 when he was caught by Nathan McCullum off Colin Monroe.

Stevens, fresh from his 44-ball ton against Sussex, lived a charmed-life, twice being dropped and being bowled from a free hit delivery. He had amassed a rapid 41, including three big sixes, before he was caught by Guptil off Anderson, and Kent’s slim victory chances with under five overs left effectively disappeared at the same time.

Ben Harmison (9) and Alex Blake (12) didn’t linger but there was time for an encouraging cameo from Cowdrey, who clubbed a four and a six in a quickfire 21 not out in his first t20 appearance.

Coles (7) was run out in the final over and Spitfires turn their attention towards their opening Friends Life t20 group game against Middlesex this Friday at Canterbury.