Key scored 75 in Spitfires' win over Essex Eagles. Picture: Barry Goodwin

By Graham Jones

Rob Key made a timely return to form as Kent Spitfires swept to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Essex Eagles in the Friends Life t20 at the St Lawrence Ground on Friday.

Key shared in 50-stands with Joe Denly and Azhar Mahmood as the hosts provided the perfect response to their defeat at Hampshire a day earlier.

The Kent captain, who had previously suffered with a succession of disappointing scores in the competition, was run out for a match-winning 75 just before the end.

He said: “Twenty20 has been a struggle (for me) as it can be sometimes particularly at the top of the order.

"You are trying to play shots and you get to the stage where you start almost doubting yourself because you’ve got to play a big shot but think ‘every time I’ve done that I get out'.

“But today I managed to get through, had a bit of luck early on and got a bit of a start, but it was a good pitch and that helps."

He added: “It was a good toss to win because the ball was skidding on a bit as it can do under lights, and a fantastic effort by our bowlers.”

Kent made one change to the side that was beaten at the Rose Bowl with Alex Blake replacing the injured Martin van Jaarsveld.

And Blake quickly marked his return by catching Adam Wheather as Wahab Riaz struck with the fifth ball of the game.

Mark Pettini (36) and Owais Shah brought up a 50-partnership for the second wicket in the ninth over, before the former departed after being caught and bowled by Adam Ball.

Ravi Bopara quickly followed Pettini back to the pavilion when he was caught by Darren Stevens off the bowling of James Tredwell.

Essex had reached 70-3 at the halfway point of their innings before Ryan Ten Doeschate, having been dropped by Denly, was bowled by Ball soon after.

A fantastic throw by Denly then accounted for Shah, who was run out for 34, and Scott Styris, batting with ten Doeschate as a runner, hit three fours in a row off Riaz before being caught behind by Geraint Jones off Charl Langeveldt.

Mahmood had James Foster caught by Sam Northeast in the deep off the first ball off the final over and Graham Napier was run out by Langeveldt as Essex closed their innings on 153-8.

Key and Denly made a brisk start to Kent’s innings with 30 off the first three overs, and the pair brought up a half-century opening stand by the end of the sixth over.

The partnership was ended soon after when Denly was caught and bowled by Tim Phillips for 20.

Kent will have been more than happy with their first 10 overs with the score on 80-1.

Key brought up a much-needed half century to warm applause from the St Lawrence crowd in a 32-ball knock that included seven fours.

Key and Mahmood then got 100 on the board for Kent after 13 overs and the pair’s 50 partnership came in the following over as they started finding runs easy to come by.

By the time Key was finally run out for by Phillips, Kent had all but won.

Mahmood hit a four off the next ball to give him a deserved unbeaten half-century and Kent victory.