GLOUCESTERSHIRE collected the NatWest Pro40 League Division 2 trophy at Canterbury last night but Kent left their champagne celebrations rather flat after inflicting a 42-run defeat.

Chasing Kent’s seemingly below-par total of 176 for nine, the Gladiators were shot out for 134 inside 33 overs yet still collected the trophy while Spitfires were left to contend themselves with a fifth-place in the division.

Overseas star Craig Spearman looked set to anchor the visitors’ reply as they set off in need of an asking rate that barely threatened 4.5 an over.

The Kiwi blustered 33 from 37 balls, but wickets fell steadily at the other end as Robbie Joseph, playing despite slight knee problems accounted for Phil Weston, to a magnificent slip catch by James Tredwell, then Hamish Marshall to a routine catch by Geraint Jones from an edged slash.

Neil Dexter beat Spearman through pure lack of pace and though mid-order dangermen Ian Harvey, Chris Taylor and Alex Gidman all made starts, they too struggled to find their timing on a dry, end-of-term Canterbury pitch.

As a result, Kent’s part-time dibbly-dob bowlers Dexter and Darren Stevens cashed in as the Gladiators lost their last six wickets for 39 runs.

Harvey (28) sliced to third-man off Dexter, Jones took his catch tally to three with two sharp efforts stood-up to Stevens, then Ferley ran through the tail to claim three for 25 as Gloucestershire blew their run chase.

James Averis was unable to bat through a back injury, leaving the visitors to shake hands in defeat at nine wickets down and assuring Kent of their fourth win of another disappointing campaign.

The home innings earlier had proved to be something of a mystery to all after Rob Key won the toss and elected to bat. Their batting order was much changed, but ultimately it proved effective on such a poor one-day pitch.

Why Martin van Jaarsveld, who has happily batted at No3 since signing for the club, should suddenly be required to open appeared odd, and he soon went leg-before.

And why Key, the club’s tried and trusted opener goes in at five continues to baffle, and then when tail-ender Simon Cook came in at four instead of the likes of Neil Dexter and Joe Denly, the confusion simply grew to disbelief.

The result was that van Jaarsveld and Stevens, who was bowled around his legs, had both gone with only 51 on the board and the re-shuffled middle order were left to try and make good.

Jones hit 21 from 31 balls before he drove loosely at Steven Kirby to caught behind, Cook plundered 22 from 17 balls then Key used up 47 balls to top-score with 37 before he have up his wicket reverse-sweeping.

The recognised batsmen followed and duly failed as Matt Walker clipped a slower ball to short extra-cover, Dexter danced down to be stumped by a mile then Denly missed an off-cutter to lose his off stump.

Thankfully, Kent’s tail wagged through Tredwell and Ferley, who combined to add 44 vital runs and set the Gladiators a target that somehow proved beyond them.