Matt Coles finished with nine wickets for the match as Kent recorded a huge LV= County Championship victory at Northamptonshire inside three days.

Fresh from hitting a century in the draw at Yorkshire last week, Coles (pictured) took six second-innings wickets to add to his three in the first to finish with 9-83 for the match as Kent prevailed by an innings and 120 runs.

Former Glamorgan man Mike Powell was the hero with the bat for his new side as he amassed a fine 128 not out to help the visitors to card 368 in reply to the hosts 132 in the first innings.

Powell received support from Geraint Jones (53) in a stand of 165 for the seventh wicket with Ben Harmison also contributing 46 from 64 balls and Brendan Nash a further 40 runs.

The first innings lead of 236 followed Coles taking 3-32 with Darren Stevens (3-38) and Charlie Shreck (3-42) helping dismiss the hosts, who had batted first after winning the toss, inside 59 overs.

Northants never got going in their second innings with Coles notching three of the opening four batsmen, and Shreck another to leave them reeling on 12-3 and 25-4.

The hosts began the final day on 50-4 but Coles gave them a mountain to climb when he accounted for skipper David Sales (42) to leave them on 69-5.

Former Kent wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O'Brien finished unbeaten on 25 but his side were skittled for just 116 to suffer their second straight big Championship defeat to open the season.

Kent's 23-point haul kept them among the early pace-setters in Division 2.