HAVING lost the county leadership Kent go into the last four games of the championship season playing Frizzell Division 1 catch-up but with a feeling that the title destiny lies in their own hands.

Sussex's innings win over Middlesex took them top on Wednesday. The draw at Hampshire left David Fulton’s side half a point behind Nottinghamshire, who come to Canterbury on September 14.

Either side of that, the county play back-to-back championship games with Middlesex and conclude the campaign with a trip to play Sussex in Hove on September 21.

Batsman Rob Key believes any one of the top six sides might yet win the championship pennant and talk of Kent claiming their first title in 27 years is somewhat premature.

Key said: "There is no clear favourite, so my personal view is to forget about winning it and just concentrate on our usual process of trying to win games.

"Thinking of a championship that’s out of our reach at the moment is a bit of a pointless exercise because there’s so much cricket still to be played.

"So far better we try and get every ball of every session right and if we work to those principles, then yes, the championship is ours for the taking.

"But if we get ahead of ourselves and start wondering how other sides are getting on then there’s a danger of us forgetting about the job in hand."