Derbyshire v Kent

SPITFIRES clinched their second NatWest Pro40 League away win of the season by 10 runs in Derby on Sunday night, but only after a determined fight by the hosts Derbyshire and their South African all-rounder Greg Smith in particular.

The diminutive 22-year-old right-hander from Johannesburg scored 88 from 68 balls, including four towering sixes, his best score in any form of county cricket to keep the game alive right to the death as the Phantoms attempted to chase down Kent's impressive 40-over total of 282 for three.

Smith, in his second season with the East Midlands' side, eventually perished with three overs remaining having had his middle stump plucked out by a Ryan McLaren yorker and, at 252 for nine, Derbyshire's victory hopes went with him.

Facing an asking rate of just over seven an over, the Phantoms had batted superbly on a slow, unpredictable pitch, on which the likes of Darren Stevens, Martin van Jaarsveld and Simon Cook proved the most difficult bowlers in the Kent attack to get away.

Stevens accounted for Travis Birt (34) and dangerman Simon Katich (10), the first to one that crept along the floor to peg back off stump, then the Aussie stroke-player, who clipped a slower ball to short mid-wicket.

Van Jaarsveld chipped in with the scalps of Anthony Botha and Dan Redfern and, with the pressure mounting late in the innings, Cook sent back James Pipe having already accounted for Michael Dighton.

Needing 27 from the last two overs, the last pair of Jake Needham and Kevin Dean could manage only 10 leaving Kent to head back down the M1 with the points for their second league win in as many starts.

Earlier, Spitfires were given the best of starts to their innings with a first-wicket opening stand of 111 between Key and Denly - the county's first century opening stand in any form of cricket this summer.

The pair had three figures up on the board after only 13.1 overs and later in the same over from Kevin Dean both men posted 50s, Denly's first from 41 balls with 10 fours, then Key who needed one more delivery and who hit three fewer boundaries.

The Phantoms' attack looked to be coming apart at the seams until the combination of Dighton's off-cutters and the off-spin of Jake Needham pegged back the run-rate, albeit temporarily.

It was Dighton who made the first breakthrough, having Denly caught by Pipe stood up to the stumps as the right-hander attempted to cut, bringing together Key and van Jaarsveld for another profitable stand of 110 in 19 overs.

Van Jaarsveld, was content to work the ball into spaces and tick along at a run-a-ball, leaving Key to improvise and play the flash shots. His deft lap-cum-flick over his left shoulder against the seamers was particularly effective, as was the swept six off Dighton that cleared the ropes at square-leg.

He was dropped off the next ball as Pipe fumbled up at the timbers, but Key raced on thereafter to his first league ton in five years off 96 balls with 11 fours to go with his six.

Looking shattered, the Kent skipper was out soon after when holing out to Smith at long-on off the bowling of Dean.

Van Jaarsveld soon followed, having reached his half-century from 55-balls, the right-hander tried to emulate Key's lap to fine leg but only succeeded in walking across his stumps to be bowled around his legs.

With nothing to lose, Stevens and Ryan McLaren made hay thereafter, adding an unbroken 50 for the fourth wicket in four overs, each hitting big sixes into the pavilion to help their side to an unassailable total.

Scores Kent 282 for three after 40 overs; Derbyshire 272 for nine after 40 overs. Kent (2pts) win by 10 runs.