Hockley hit 121 from 120 balls

James Hockley formed the cornerstone of Kent's victory, his 121 coming at less than a run a ball and including 14 fours and three sixes as his side amassed 328 for nine.

The reply was far less impressive, with only Ian Bell (50) and Jamie Troughton (32) producing any real threat as Warwickshire fell 128 runs short when dismissed in the 38th over. Kent will now face Gloucestershire in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Hockley figured in a 157-run stand with Rob Key for the second wicket after the early dismissal of pinch hitter Amjad Khan.

Key made 64 from 72 balls before being caught at third man by Bell off South Africa-born fast bowler Neil Carter.

But when Hockley was bowled by spinner Neil Smith, Kent failed to keep up the tempo in the last few overs, despite a rapid 41 from Andrew Symonds.

Surprise packet

Warwickshire skipper Powell was the surprise packet, taking five for 40 with his part-time medium-pacers.

The visitors knew they needed a swift start to get near Kent's score and were looking to opener Nick Knight after his call-up to the England squad for the one-day triangular series with India and Sri Lanka.

But he and fellow opener Carter failed to provide the necessary platform, Carter falling for six when top-edging a Khan delivery to Matthew Walker, and Knight going for 25 after being bowled by Martin Saggers.

Khan then bowled Pollock for nine before Bell and Troughton gave their side a glimmer of hope with a 75-run partnership.

But when Troughton's knock came to an end with a top-edge from Mark Ealham through to Nixon behind the stumps, Warwickshire soon slipped away.

Bell completed his half-century off 59 balls before being bowled by an Andrew Symonds yorker, and the Australian then ripped through the lower order to finish with figures of three for 21.

Kent: R W T Key, J B Hockley, A Symonds, D P Fulton (Capt), M J Walker, M A Ealham, P A Nixon (Wkt), J M Golding, J C Tredwell, M J Saggers, A Khan.

Warwickshire: M J Powell (Capt), N V Knight, S M Pollock, I R Bell, J O Troughton, D P Ostler, D R Brown, N M K Smith, N M Carter, K J Piper (Wkt), M A Sheikh.

Umpires: B Dudleston and J H Evans