Kent Spitfires made it back-to-back wins in Friends Life t20 South Division with a nervy nine-run win over Sussex Sharks at Canterbury on Wednesday night.

Following Sunday’s surprise win at Hampshire, Kent got themselves off the bottom of the table after their most impressive batting performance of the competition.

Darren Stevens led the way with 67 not out but he received good support from 20-year-old Fabian Cowdrey who made 40 from 21 balls to open the innings on just his second appearance in the competition.

Cowdrey and Sam Billings (24) gave the hosts the perfect start after skipper Geraint Jones – standing-in for the injured James Tredwell - won the toss.

The pair put on 50 in less than five overs and 60 for the opening wicket before Billings was bowled by paceman Chris Liddle from the 32nd delivery of the innings.

Cowdrey – playing without regular opening partner Daniel Bell-Drummond, who was absent due to personal reasons – followed four balls later, hitting straight to Matt Machan off Liddle

Brendan Nash made a watchful 15 from 31 balls but despite an uncharacteristically patient start, it was Stevens who steered Kent to their highest batting total of the competition, beating the 145 they posted against in their opening game against Middlesex a month ago.

The all-rounder and Nash – bowled by Liddle (3-43) - put on 62 in 10.2 overs before Stevens added 40 from the last 25 balls with Alex Blake (14 not out)

Stevens hit back-to-back sixes to start the 15th over from spinner Will Beer and cracked 18 vital runs from the final over from Lewis Hatchett to boost Kent’s total to an ultimately winning one.

The Spitfires closed on 173-3 before beginning the reply with some stifling bowling with the first wicket falling in the first over from Adam Riley, who had Dwayne Smith caught in the deep by Blake for one.

Rory Hamilton-Brown made a solid 24 alongside opener Machan but after he fell leg before to Matt Coles. Machan and skipper Chris Nash put on 68 in eight overs to keep the visitors in the hunt.

When Nash clipped Stevens to Billings on the rope, the Sharks were 114-3 with less than five overs remaining and 60 runs still to find.

They needed 44 from 20 balls after Vernon Philander claimed the crucial scalp of Machan, caught again by Billings after a 48-ball knock of 67.

Kent were favourites at that stage but Styris and Ed Joyce each cracked a six and a four to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

Joyce was run-out for 18 with the final ball of the 19th over and 23 runs still required and Styris holed-out to Nash at deep mid-wicket off Mitch Claydon after 10 runs were added in the first three balls of the final over.

Sussex needed 13 from the last two balls, and although a wide from Claydon did produce groans from the bumper midweek crowd of nearly 4,000, the final two deliveries cost a run each as Kent made it over the line.

They will seek their third win of the competition in their eighth game away to Surrey on Friday (7pm).