FESTIVAL week at Tunbridge Wells started with a convincing one-day victory for Kent over the Netherlands on Bank Holiday Monday.

Rob Key returned to form with a one-day cricket career best of 144 not out as the Spitfires chased down a challenging score of 245.

Brendon Nash also impressed with his 57 coming off 44 deliveries.

Today the Spitfires begin a four-day game with Leicestershire and the week finishes on Sunday with another one-day match against Northampton Steelbacks.

Leading up to it, Kent were left to rue the loss of more than a day to bad weather against Essex.

Having bowled Essex out for just 212, Darren Stevens, Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck sharing the wickets, Stevens followed up with a brilliant century to build on Ben Harmison’s first half century of the season.

Sadly, after the whole of Friday was rained off, Kent’s chances of winning looked limited.

An unlikely victory became a possibility when Essex were reduced to 24-5, with Davies taking the first four wickets, but Ben Foakes and James Foster steadied the ship and the game petered out into a draw.

Kent then travelled to Horsham for a one-day match against Sussex.

Adam Ball’s three wickets helped to keep Sussex to 222-9 but despite 51 from Stevens and Harmison’s 42, Kent fell 20 runs short.

An injury to Davies made the loss even more disappointing leading into the festival week.

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