Paul Dixey had a NatWest Pro40 debut to remember after he hit the winning runs to guide a young Kent Spitfires side to an exciting three-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes with only two balls left at Grace Road on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old reserve wicketkeeper hit six and four off successive deliveries in James Benning’s last over, and enjoyed the moment, celebrating with batting partner Amjad Khan, as Spitfires secured their second win of the season and moved joint-top of Division 2.

Kent still needed 20 off 14 balls when Benning bowled Azhar Mahmood (pictured) for 23, but the Kent pair stayed calm with Dixey, replacing the rested Geraint Jones, following up a neat performance behind the stumps to prove an unlikely hero.

Sam Northeast and James Hockley gave Kent, chasing 210 to win, a confident start by putting on 66 for the first wicket inside 10 overs. Hockley went caught behind by Tom New for 29 off 24 balls including six fours, and Northeast was then stumped for 39 (51 balls, seven fours). Alex Blake made 21, and acting captain Justin Kemp hit 38.

Azhar grabbed two early Foxes wickets, leaving them 19-2 in the fifth over, but former England Under-19 batsman James Taylor hit 95 and skipper Boeta Dippenaar made 47 at a run-a- ball. to steady the innings. Phil Edwards took 2-36, while Mahmood returned to grab two more to finish with figures of 4-41.