FRIENDS PROVIDENT t20, Hove:
Kent 194-1 beat Sussex 167-9 by 27 runs
Match scorecard

In nine previous knocks in this year's FP t20, Key had only made 146 runs

Kent captain Rob Key smashed a stunning 98 off 55 balls at Hove as holders Sussex crashed to their second Twenty20 defeat in less than 48 hours.

Prior to Friday night, Sussex had only lost one Twenty20 game in two years, but this 27-run defeat followed their seven-wicket loss against Somerset.

Kent always looked favourites after Key and Martin van Jaarsveld (53no) helped run up an impressive total of 194-1.

And, once the in-form Matt Prior had gone for 44, Sussex folded to 167-7.

Kent captain Rob Key told BBC Radio Kent:
"It's really encouraging to see the likes of Matt Coles bowling at the death, there can't be many 19-year-olds doing that, Ashley Shaw taking the new ball at the same age and Alex Blake fielding well under really high pressure.

"We'll see the benefit of the young players, maybe not this year, but certainly in time to come. What we've been lacking is the senior players stepping up with the bat.

"Martin van Jaarsveld's played really well and having Joe Denly back was a huge boost. A lot of our success in the past has come with myself and Joe at the top of the order and everyone else being able to play off that.

"We've got a mixture of experienced players and youngsters, we are inconsistent at the moment, but days like these are encouraging and hopefully, it means that Kent will be a force to come in the future."

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