Kent failed to defend 300-plus runs for the second game running when they suffered a six-wicket defeat at home to Sussex on Friday.

The Spitfires batted first and Daniel Bell-Drummond scored his second successive ton, hitting a run-a-ball 138, which included nine fours and three sixes.

He put on a 104-run partnership with Sean Dickson (46) and, along with the in-form Alex Blake (76 off 43 balls), helped Kent reach a total of 331-7.

However, an unbeaten maiden century from Sussex's Laurie Evans saw the visitors home with 13 balls to spare at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

Wickets from Darren Stevens, Matt Coles and James Tredwell had Sussex at 123-3, after Sussex skipper Luke Wright hit 64.

But that was as good as it got for Kent, as a 207-run stand between Evans (134 from 86 balls) and Harry Finch (80 from 82 balls) saw the visitors to the brink of victory, eventually reaching 332-4.