Kent Spitfires v Essex Eagles

Martin van Jaarsveld hammered 124 - his best limited overs score for Kent - but could not prevent Spitfires from slipping to a 31-run defeat to Essex in the first of this season's Friends Provident Trophy qualifiers.

Despite a slow St Lawrence pitch, batsmen from both sides thrived and 600 runs were scored in the day as Kent fell just short of chasing the Eagles' 50-over total of 317 for five.

Van Jaarsveld, who hit his only other one-day century for Kent (114) in Bath three years ago, hit nine fours and two sixes in his 87-ball ton and eventually went for 124 from 93 balls four overs from the end.

It was the South African who rescued Kent from a sticky start to their reply and who gave them a hint of a chance at pulling off an unlikely win.

Having played out four maidens in the first six overs of their innings, Kent finally broke Eagles' stranglehold with a couple of rasping drives by Joe Denly but, just as he began to look settled, the England Lions batsman worked across the line to be bowled by Chris Wright.

After reaching 20 without a boundary, Rob Key, pressing too hard for a risky second, lost the race against Andre Nels' throw to run himself out.

Matt Walker and van Jaarsveld ticked along at a run-a-ball in a bid to set up a late charge with wickets in hand, a ploy that led to a worthy 80-run stand but, with 20 overs remaining, the asking rate had leapt to almost 10 an over.

With the pressure mounting, Walker (33) attempted a reverse paddle to spinner James Middlebrook only to glove a catch to the keeper then, in the next over, Darren Stevens also edged behind to go for two.

Van Jaarsveld reached a 46-ball half-century and fresh from a debut ton on Friday, Azhar Mahmood was promoted to bat at No.6 but he went leg before for 30 and Kent's hopes gradually evaporated thereafter as they finished on 286 or nine.

Earlier, a limited overs career-best 119 by Essex opening bat Mark Pettini coupled with a thrilling 99 from 87 balls by England all-rounder Ravi Bopara ensured an afternoon of Kent leather-chasing.

Eagles' batsmen made the Spitfires' attack, who constantly over-pitched, look pretty limited as they piled on runs at the rate of 6.34 an over.

Spitfires made their first breakthrough courtesy of a run out when Joe Denly sent Jason Gallian packing with a direct hit but Kent then had to wait 28 overs for their next success.

In that time, Bopara and Pettini added an excellent 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.

Arafat, discharged from hospital on Saturday after an appendicitis scare, was the pick of a lacklustre attack with two for 39, but will undergo further tests before declaring himself fit to play against Sussex from Wednesday.

Ryan ten Doeschate (22) holed out to deep cover off Ryan McLaren then, next ball, Pettini's 166-ball stay ended when he nicked to Jones.

Tim Phillips survived McLaren's hat-trick ball and the late slog took the visitors beyond 300.