Kent’s hopes of landing a County Championship and Nat West Pro40 double suffered a setback as the Spitfires lost by 59 runs against old rivals Warwickshire Bears at Canterbury on Sunday.

However Essex’s draw with Glamorgan means they have clinched promotion in four-day cricket at the first attempt, with two games remaining, and will win the Division 2 title with victory against Leicestershire at Canterbury in their final home game of the season, starting at the St Lawrence Ground on Tuesday.

Pinch-hitter Neil Carter was the Bears match-winner blasting six sixes and 13 fours in a 64-ball hundred, before retiring hurt and taken to hospital with a slipped disc. Jim Troughton (53) and Tim Ambrose (46) chipped in with useful contributions in a total of 283-6.

Spitfires needed more than seven an over from the start, but openers Sam Northeast and James Hockley went cheaply, and when Alex Blake went they were in trouble at 38-3.

Geraint Jones (pictured) hit 63 off 60 balls, Darren Stevens (46) and James Tredwell 45 off 36 balls to launch a recovery, but the target proved too much as Spitfires were dismissed for 224, a second successive defeat, costing them top spot.