Van Jaarsveld sees off Sussex

Martin van Jaarsveld's stellar form continued with an unbeaten century for Kent

Martin van Jaarsveld’s second century in the Friends Provident Trophy helped Kent Spitfires to a nine-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks with 47 balls to spare at Canterbury.

The Sharks' eight-bowler attack missed leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who was out with a knee injury, and struggled to make an impression as van Jaarsveld (109 not out) and Joe Denly (83no) took the Spitfires home.

After deciding to bat first, the Sharks began briskly, scoring at nearly six an over, but slowed down after the loss of the first wicket as Chris Nash stepped out to drive Yasir Arafat and was bowled for 19.

Simon Cook, having replaced Arafat, trapped Chris Adams lbw for 21, but Michael Yardy continued to pick up runs fluently.

Having driven Cook for seven boundaries, Yardy played a lovely off-drive, off Robbie Joseph shortly before the Sharks' hundred came in the 24th over.

Yardy reached his second successive half-century against Kent in the competition this season when he pulled Joseph for his fifth boundary from 71 balls.

The one blemish in his innings was on 24 when his nick to slip was dropped by van Jaarsveld off Joseph.

James Tredwell, brought on for the 28th over, struck straight away when he had Yardy (54) stumped in his first over, and the Sharks were 118 for three.

Carl Hopkinson and Rory Hamilton-Brown put on a stand of 74 in 13 overs, with the former's 48 coming from 60 balls.

After Andrew Hodd (three) was run out in the 42nd over, Cook claimed his second wicket, bowling Hamilton-Brown for 35 from 41 balls.

With the Sharks reaching 118 for nine in 50 overs, their last six wickets to fall had added only 24 runs.

Cook was the pick of the bowlers, with three for 41, while Arafat and Tredwell had two each for 31 and 33 respectively.

Denly and Matt Walker gave Kent an aggressive start, with Denly pulling Ragheb Aga to the boundary in the first over and then taking another four and a six, over mid-wicket, in the bowler's next over.

Aga was replaced by Robin Martin-Jenkins for the next over, and he was quick to strike.

His second ball was edged behind the stumps by Walker (22), but the next ball, the first saved by van Jaarsveld, was sent for six over mid-wicket.

Both batsmen kept up the forceful batting, and the 50 of their partnership came in 11 overs.

Van Jaarsveld's second six, hit over wide mid-wicket off Martin-Jenkins, took the total to 101 in 20.1 overs, and in the same over, he struck a four, after which the bowler was replaced by left-arm spinner Tom Smith.

The South African batsman reached his half-century from 51 balls in the 25th over, and Denly did so in the next over from 71 balls while the hundred of their partnership followed, with both batsmen scoring freely.

A four and a massive six over wide mid-wicket, off Michael Yardy, took van Jaarsveld to 82, and his hundred came soon after from just 98 balls when he drove Chris Nash to extra cover for his eighth boundary as Kent eased home.