Geraint Jones hits out on his way to a half century as Spitfires enjoyed a five-wicket victory over Sussex. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent consolidated their position as front-runners in the Twenty20 Cup South Division with a comfortable five-wicket win over Sussex at Canterbury on Sunday.

Azhar Mahmood was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-16 from four overs, including two wickets in four balls.

Robbie Joseph also took 2-25 and had it not been for former Kent star Yasir Arafat’s late 43in an eight-over stand of 58 with skipper Michael Yardy, Sussex would have fallen well short of the 132-7 they closed on.

Joe Denly (2) again departed quickly but Martin van Jaarsveld - standing in for captain Rob Key who is on England Twenty20 duty - cracked 39 from 32 balls.

After Ryan McLaren was trapped lbw for just one, Geraint Jones came to the crease to join van Jaarsveld and it was Jones who changed the game in more ways than one.

When Jones clubbed a ball towards the boundary, Sussex opener Chris Nash and team-mate Dwayne Smith converged on the ball.

Smith caught the ball, but was falling over the boundary line so palmed the ball back into the air with the intention of catching it inside the boundary.

However the on-rushing Nash careered into Smith, suffering a suspected broken leg, and a 15-minute delay ensued as an ambulance was called.

Jones fired 56 from 39 balls, sharing in a fourth-wicket stand of 73 in eight overs, which helped the Spitfires to their target with five wickets in hand and three overs to spare.

On Friday Kent recorded their second Twenty20 victory over holders Middlesex in three days with a four-wicket win at Canterbury.

After a 62-run victory at Lord’s on Wednesday, Kent followed up with a solid bowling display to exact further revenge on the side that beat them in last year’s final.

Joseph led the way, taking the first two wickets and producing a disciplined spell with figures of 2-14 off four overs, as the visitors stumbled to 104-6 having won the toss and elected to bat.

Kent were in early trouble at 6-2, however van Jaarsveld struck 28 from 24 balls to steady the ship while McLaren scored 31 to put Kent on course for victory.

A late 14 not-out from Darren Stevens helped the Spitfires to their target with 10 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

Kent will aim to continue their unbeaten record when they face Essex - the only other team not to have lost in the division - at Chelmsford on Monday (7pm).