KENT put a disastrous week of cricket behind them and banked plenty of self-belief into the bargain after coasting to a seven-wicket win over Derbyshire Phantoms at Canterbury on Sunday.

For once, Spitfires held their nerve in a limited-overs’ run-chase to sprint to their third NatWest Pro40 League win of the Division 2 campaign with 37 balls to spare.

After last weekend’s dismal showing at New Road, Rob Key’s side bounced back to impress a 4,000 St Lawrence crowd with a measured performance in the field, and then with the bat as Key led them to victory from the front.

The home reply started poorly with the loss of two wickets in the space of three balls as Kent’s new-look batting order initially failed.

Darren Stevens (2) clipped the last ball of the second over from Irish paceman Boyd Rankin straight to mid-wicket then, three balls later, Martin van Jaarsveld’s attempted run down off swing bowler Kevin Dean simply picked out Stephen Stubbings at slip.

At five for two after only 15 balls Spitfires chanced upon what ought to have been their opening partnership for the last fortnight when Key and Geraint Jones were thrown together.

Both had trouble getting Dean away, indeed the tall left-armer bowled 23 balls before conceding a run off the bat, but Kent were able to cash in at the pavilion end.

Jones, who inexplicably batted at No8 last weekend, came in at three and immediately revealed a willingness to go aerial against anything short or wide to hit eight boundaries.

After a decent start Rankin showed his inexperience allowing Key to take three successive fours in a stand worth 87 in 56 minutes.

Jones eventually went for 49 from 41 balls after missing a paddle sweep against off-spinner Jake Needham, but Key was far from done.

He then linked up with Matthew Walker, Kent’s leading four-day run-scorer batting in a more suitable position at five, to polish the job off with an unbroken 72-run stand.

Key's 79-ball half-century, his first of the league season, was well-pcaed while Walker swept Anthony Botha for six on his way to an unbeaten 32 as both realised a low-risk approach would still win the game.

Considering they were without the injured Amjad Khan, Martin Saggers, Matt Dennington and Min Patel, Kent’s patched up attack performed well in restricting Phantoms to 162 for eight.

Only their opening bat Stubbings thrived, his 57 runs coming from 70 balls with seven fours, one less than his team-mates put together.

His downfall was hardly his fault either, in pushing the ball to backward point fourth-wicket partner Greg Smith initially called for a single, only to send Stubbings back and leave him stranded against van Jaarsveld’s throw from backward point.

Though Simon Cook accounted for Chris Taylor early doors, it was Tyron Henderson who proved the pick of Kent’s new ball attack.

His first seven overs conceded only 11 singles and but for a boundary in his last over the South African’s figures would have been exceptional.

For the first time in weeks Kent fielded superbly with van Jaarsveld, Stevens and Ferley, in for the injured Min Patel, taking excellent catches, while the support bowlers gave their opening attack the backing they deserved.

Tredwell varied his pace well in a one for 24 stint that proved testament to his burgeoning maturity, while Rob Ferley revelled in a rare first team appearance by accounting for Botha and Lee Goddard after deceiving both in the flight.

Even van Jaarsveld rolled off five tight overs to have Hunter caught in the deep as Kent gave themselves an achievable task with the bat.