Kent Spitfires slipped to their second defeat of the season in the Yorkshire Bank 40 on Sunday when they went down by 20 runs to the Sussex Sharks at Horsham.

But Kent had looked poised for victory when, chasing a Sussex target of 222-9, they reached 141-3 off 26 overs with Darren Stevens going well.

But then Stevens was caught in the covers off Chris Jordan for 51 and when Jordan Ben Harmison, held by Luke Wright one-handed at short third man for 42, Kent’s tail was left with too much to do.

The Spitfires were bowled out for 202 in the final over when Mark Davies, who had batted despite suffering from a torn bicep in his left arm, lost his middle stump to James Anyon.

Jordan bowled with venom on a slow pitch to take 2-36 but his unbeaten 37 off 26 balls at the end of the Sussex innings was arguably more important to his side.

He and last man Chris Liddle put on 34 after an inconsistent batting performance by the Sharks. Four of their top five batsmen got past 30 but the top scorer was Michael Yardy with 42 as Kent’s attack stuck to their task on a two-paced pitch despite losing Davies halfway through his sixth over.

Yardy was bowled by Tredwell to give the England spinner his 200th one-day wicket and Sussex’s lower-middle order failed before Jordan and Liddle gave the home side hope.

Adam Ball was Kent’s best bowler with 3-36 but his figures were spoilt when his last over cost 18, including a pulled six by Jordan.