It was almost like old times at Canterbury as a large bank holiday crowd gathered to cheer the Spitfires into the CB40 semi-finals. However, it was the cross-border supporters who enjoyed the afternoon as Sussex Sharks cruised to a nine-wicket victory with 10 overs to spare.
With Warwickshire overcoming the weather and Yorkshire, Kent missed out by virtue of Warwickshire's higher tally of wins. In the semi-finals they face Lancashire, who had sewn up Group A, while Sussex play Hampshire, who picked up the point they needed in a no result at Durham
Kent began slowly and, with their progress mired by regular dismissals, even a late display of pyrotechnics by Geraint Jones only lifted them to 210 for 5. That was well short as Luke Wright and Matt Prior smashed their way to an unbroken 152-run partnership in 130 balls with Wright making 101 and Prior 78.
Kent's attention switched to Scarborough where rain had driven Warwickshire off early, but the Bears returned with the game reduced to 29 overs a side to post 211 for 6, Tim Ambrose hitting 87 not out off 64 balls. An under-strength Yorkshire never looked matching this and were bowled out for 158 in 25.1 overs.
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