Fine bowling from Danish Kaneria and Grant Flower helped Essex clinch a dramatic one-run victory over Kent.

Set 148 to win, Kent needed 14 runs off the final over from Kaneria, with Yasir Arafat hitting the last ball of the game for six to finish short on 146-8.

Joe Denly (24) and Martin van Jaarsveld (32) started well, but Flower's 3-21 ripped through Kent's middle order.

Essex's innings was built around Jason Gallian's 44 and another fine knock from skipper James Foster (41 not out).

Kaneria's dismissal of Van Jaarsveld with his first ball proved to be the turning point as the South African was looking in ominous form.

The Pakistan leg-spinner conceded just five runs from his first two overs as Kent's run chase stalled.

Flower soon removed the dangerous Azhar Mahmood, who had struck 20 from only 12 balls, before he was caught at wide mid-on, as well as Geraint Jones (15) and Darren Stevens (14).

Earlier, Kent - many pundits tip to lift the Twenty20 Cup again for a second season - were forced to withdraw fast bowler Arafat after he sent down two beamers in three deliveries at Foster in the 19th over.

Those no-balls proved to be crucial as Essex take second place in the South Division behind Middlesex.