Young Kent batsman Joe Denly took his Twenty20 Cup run aggregate to 336 runs at a stunning average of 46 with an incredible innings of 91 that blew Essex away and helped steer Kent to Sunday's fifth cup win of the campaign.

The 21-year-old right-hander blasted five sixes in the triumph in Beckenham that moved Kent back to the top of the South Division.

Speaking afterwards, Spitfires' man-of-the-match said: "I've been happy with the (four other) 50s, but disappointed at not carrying on, getting out before I'd gone on to play a match-winning innings, so it was great to do that today.

"This has to be one of the best wickets in England to bat on, there's not much in it for the bowlers and pace and bounce onto the bat which, together with the strong wind today, helped stack things in my favour.

"I didn't have to power it on here, just time it off the bat. It's batting paradise here."

With three games to go; Middlesex at Uxbridge on Tuesday night, Surrey in Canterbury on Wednesday, then Sussex in Hove on Friday, Spitfires must now be considered favourites to top their qualifying group.

Denly added: "The other results went our way today and we're back there on top again now, which is the way we want it if we're to get a home quarter-final draw.

"Teams coming up against us now can see we're hitting form at the right time and they'll be talking about us as one of the strongest sides on the circuit and it's good to be in that position."