Robin Martin-Jenkins and James Kirtley took four wickets each as Sussex eased to a 126-run victory over Kent at Canterbury.

Chasing an unlikely 283 for victory, Kent's task was made all the more difficult when the early departures of openers Paul Nixon and Rob Key stranded them on two for two.

A steady flow of wickets followed, and when Martin-Jenkins took his fourth wicket, trapping Aussie Andrew Symonds in front for seven, Kent had descended to 65 for seven.

Blushes were avoided when Matthew Walker and Dave Fulton added 55 for the sixth wicket, but the inevitable loomed larger when Kirtley removed Walker for 27 and Fulton was run out for 37.

Martin-Jenkins finished with four for 22, his best one-day figures at first-class level, while Kirtley returned four for 34.

Earlier, Murray Goodwin played a leading role in establishing a formidable total for Sussex.

The Zimbabwean carted the Kent attack to all parts, hitting five boundaries and four sixes in a 59-ball knock.

But while he finished the job for Sussex, openers Richard Montgomerie and Tim Ambrose started it in infectious fashion.

The pair put on 137 for the first wicket before Symonds had Montgomerie stumped for 71.

Ambrose followed four runs later for 64, but skipper Chris Adams (41) and Goodwin made sure Kent would not be let off the hook.

David Masters went for 61 from his ten overs, the wicket of Ambrose the only highlight for him.

Kent: D P Fulton (Capt), R W T Key, J B Hockley, E T Smith, A Symonds, M J Walker, P A Nixon (Wkt), M V Fleming, J M Golding, M J Saggers, D D Masters.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie, M W Goodwin, C J Adams (Capt), P A Cottey, M H Yardy, W J House, T R Ambrose (Wkt), R S C Martin-Jenkins, B V Taylor, M J G Davis, R J Kirtley.

Umpires: J W Lloyds and R Palmer