Kent earn home tie

The hosts had looked well set on 184-5 but Smith’s dismissal left them needing 67 off 49 balls.The lower order couldn’t manage it and Hants finish an agonising five runs short.

“We bowled nicely and the guys got rewarded,” Allenby said.“Once again the spinners bowled brilliantly as they have the whole tournament.

“To have that attitude and that will to win is really important and that is something we have been trying to get into this team.

“The wicket was slow and taking a bit of spin. It was the same one we used for the T20 Blast last week so I thought that was probably enough runs.”

Somerset welcome Worcestershire Rapids to Taunton for the quarter-final on August 17. CAPTAIN Sam Northeast believes his Kent Spitfires side are beginning to hit their straps after a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks handed them a home One-Day Cup quarter-final against Yorkshire.

The visitors cantered home with 11 overs to spare chasing 183 which, combined with Hampshire’s loss to Somerset, sent Kent through second in the South Group with a last-eight tie to come at Canterbury. This in a match reduced to 43 overs per side after rain hit the Garden of England.

And Northeast was quick to praise his opening bowlers, as Mitch Claydon (1-19) and Matt Coles (4-39) reduced Sussex to 53 early on. Harry Finch did pass 50 for the visitors, but he was the only man to do so.

The Sharks never recovered from that horror start, scrabbling together enough runs to make 182-8, before the captain