TWO wickets and a stunning century capped James Tredwell’s captain’s performance and secured Kent the ECB 2nd XI one-day title with victory over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl yesterday.

On the day he was overlooked for the ECB’s Academy intake for this winter, 20-year-old Tredwell answered the selectors in the best possible fashion by steering Kent to the title with a five wicket win.

Fought out over two days after rain washed out all but 18-overs' play on Monday, Kent reduced the hosts to 69 for three before rain took the final into its reserve day, and went on to limit them to 238 all out after yesterday's resumption.

The off-spinner from Folkestone claimed the vital scalps of opener Jimmy Adams and James Hamblin, while Rob Ferley, James Golding and James Hibberd also bagged two apiece to dismiss Hampshire five balls from the end of their 50-over allocation.

Tredwell then featured in an opening stand worth 83 with Matt Banes (27) before going on to top-score with an excellent 111.

The Kent captain was finally stumped off the bowling of Lawrence Prittipaul, but middle order contributions of 21 apiece from Geraint Jones and Alex Loudon allowed James Golding (29) and James Hewitt (6) to complete the win with just two balls to spare.

"Tredwell really was the man who stood out from the rest," said Kent’s Simon Willis, who takes over from Chris Stone as 2nd XI coach next summer.

"After Tredwell's disappointment of missing out on the academy he’s come back with a really strong performance and that shows what great character he has. He’s quite a level-headed lad in pressure situations and is just the sort of player you want in your side in the heat of a run chase."

It was the second time Kent have won the 2nd XI limited overs title, their last success also came against Hampshire back in 1999 with Willis’s last game for the county before his retirement.

The victory also completes a title double for Chris Stone’s second string side after they pipped Derbyshire and Glamorgan for the 2nd XI championship title last week