Rob Key’s best ever one day score helped Kent to a crushing eight-wicket win over the Netherlands in Yorkshire Bank 40 Group A at Tunbridge Wells on Monday.

The 101 Festival Week began with a bang as a lovely batting track gave the visitors the chance to post an imposing target of 249-5, however former skipper Key produced a swashbuckling knock of 144 not out which took him third on the list of the county’s highest one-day innings behind Carl Hooper and Andrew Symonds.

Symonds top-score of 146 was also achieved at the Nevill Ground, against Lancashire in 2004, and would have been equalled by Key, had the final two runs of the Kent chase been awarded to him rather than leg byes.

In glorious sunshine the Netherlands won the toss and chose to bat, but Matt Coles gave the hosts the perfect start as he rearranged Michael Swart’s stumps in the second over.

However the Spitfires were made to toil after that with Wesley Barresi making an accomplished 69 before falling to Adam Riley, while he shared a 95-run third wicket stand with Tom Cooper (54) while Dom Michael flashed a late 51 from 40 balls, including three sixes, to steer the Dutchmen to 249-5 from their 40 overs.

The highlight for Kent came with a superb diving catch from Adam Ball to account for Daan van Bunge to give Coles his second wicket, albeit at a cost of 63 runs from his seven overs.

Any murmurings in the crowd about a possible upset were short-lived as Sam Northeast and Key began the reply in breezy fashion, reaching 115 without loss before Northeast misread one from spinner Pieter Seelar and departed for 35.

Key however was in imperious form and kept the scoreboard ticking over with 19 fours and a late six which scattered the Spitfire Sweethearts cheerleaders sat near the boundary.

It looked like Brendan Nash (57 from 38 balls) would join Key to get the Spitfires over the line, however after Nash fell it was Darren Stevens (11 not out) who finished in the support role as Key hammered Kent to victory with more than four overs to spare.

The win strengthened Kent’s grip on second spot in Group A and went some way to putting the disappointment of Sunday’s 20-run loss at Sussex Sharks behind them.