A second-wicket stand of 181 in 28 overs from Mark Pettini and Ravi Bopara helped Essex to a 31-run win over Kent.

England's Bopara hit Azhar Mahmood for four fours in an over before edging behind on 99, from only 87 balls, with 11 fours in total plus three sixes.

Pettini hit nine fours and a six in his 119, 47 coming off the last five overs.

Kent started slowly in search of 318, but Martin van Jaarsveld went to 99 with his second six, reaching 100 in 78 balls before he was eighth out.

Bopara's attractive innings almost ended on 78 but Joe denly on the long-on boundary stumbled and the result was six runs not a catch.

For Kent, Matthew Walker shared 80 with van Jaarsveld before falling to a reverse sweep, while Mahmood also gave Kent hope with a quickfire 30, but Geraint Jones made only five before lobbing a simple catch to mid-wicket off Andre Nel (2-40).