Jack Leaning’s unbeaten 81 from 117 balls guided Kent Spitfires to a thrilling three-wicket victory against Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup on Friday.
Spitfires were sliding to defeat at 106-6, chasing 207, with Samit Patel taking 3-30 – but Leaning – Kent’s vice-captain and skipper in the 50-over tournament – revived them alongside Grant Stewart’s 48 from 39 balls.
Leaning and Matt Parkinson then added 33 from 43 balls to see Kent home with 28 balls to spare.
Brooke Guest earlier had made 85 from 117 balls, sharing an eighth-wicket stand of 75 runs with Harry Moore, who made a career-best 40 to take Derbyshire to 206 all out, with Parkinson claiming 3-23.
Kent bowled well on a used pitch with George Garrett (2-47) finding late movement to have Harry Came caught behind.
But there were some soft dismissals, starting with Luis Reece, who was run-out by a direct hit from cover in the seventh over.
David Lloyd drove back a low return catch to Stewart (2-28) but it was Parkinson’s spell which put Derbyshire on the back foot.
Guest and Anuj Dal ran well, picking up quick singles and twos, but Parkinson tempted Dal into a big drive which landed in the hands of long-on.
Patel pulled Jas Singh (0-52) for the only six of their innings, only for Parkinson to snare him in the 25th over with a slower ball which he drove to cover.
When Yousaf Bin Naeem was trapped lbw, Derbyshire were 109-6, with Guest’s 77-ball 50 holding his side together.
Garrett returned to bowl Zak Chappell with a late in-swinger but Moore provided Guest with the support he deserved to give the hosts respectability.
The pair kept the board ticking over without taking risks before Moore ramped and cut Jas Singh for three consecutive fours in the 44th over.
Guest’s excellent innings came to an end when he pulled Australian overseas signing Charlie Stobo (1-39) to mid-wicket and Moore went in the 47th over, run-out at the non-striker’s end by a direct hit from cover.
But they had given the bowlers something to defend and Moore (1-58) struck when Marcus O’Riordan was caught behind down the leg-side.
Moore saw Joey Evison dropped at first slip before Leaning dispatched him for four boundaries in his next over.
Derbyshire needed inspiration and Daryn Dupavillon provided it by taking a stunning one handed diving catch at mid-on off Patel to remove Evison for 32.
Patel struck again in his next over when Jaydn Denly was cramped for room, trying to pull and holed out to long-on, leaving Kent 78-3.
Derbyshire sensed there was an opening when Harry Finch played a loose drive at Pat Brown (1-41) and Lloyd made no mistake at slip.
The pressure was now on Kent, who started to unravel as two more wickets went down in four overs.
Ekansh Singh clipped Chappell (2-33) to mid-wicket and Stobo got a leading edge to slip, trying to work Patel through the leg-side.
But Leaning gave Kent hope, reaching 50 from 79 balls and, with Stewart, he steered his side back into the contest.
Stewart pulled Brown for two maximums and appeared to be winning the game until he lifted Chappell to fine leg, where Moore managed to take a superb catch without carrying the ball over the rope.
But Leaning hit Moore for three fours and, with Parkinson (4 not out), saw his team to a win that keeps their hopes of making the knock-out stages alive and dents Derbyshire’s chances of qualifying.
Spitfires will return to action against Durham in Canterbury on Sunday.
