Key scored 28 in the FLt20 quarter-final

Kent captain Rob Key said he was left "gobsmacked" by their FL t20 quarter-final defeat by Leicestershire.

Key's side posted 203-3 in their 20 overs but Andrew McDonald struck 55 as the hosts won with four balls to spare at Grace Road.

Key told BBC Radio Kent: "At halfway, we thought we were there. They didn't bowl very well and neither did we.

"It's not often we get 200 and even rarer that it gets chased down. I'm just gobsmacked really."

Bidding for their fourth finals day in five years, Kent's total owed largely to 91 from Azhar Mahmood and 63 from Martin van Jaarsveld.

In reply, Leicestershire were always up with the run rate, aided by 11 wides from Kent's wayward bowling.

You're there to get runs. You're there to get wickets. We haven't done it well enough Kent captain Rob Key

Key said he was disappointed with his side's efforts with the ball.

"When you play a game like that, if you come off and you know you couldn't have bowled or fielded better, there's not a lot you can do.

"The sad thing is that we know we could have done a bit better," said the 32-year-old.

He added: "It's a real shame. Especially when you get 200, you've almost got one foot in the door."

The t20 competition represented Kent's only chance of getting their hands on a trophy this season.

Kent currently lie eighth in the County Championship Division Two and fifth in the CB40 Group A.

Key said that his side still had their pride to play for this season.

"You're there to get runs. You're there to get wickets. We haven't done it well enough," he said.

"I'd like to think there's enough pride among the players to pick up and finish the season well. It can only go one way from here."

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