Nottinghamshire slipped to their fourth defeat of the season on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

Set a nominal victory target of 406, from a minimum of 85 overs, Notts were dismissed for just 120 in their second innings, leaving the hosts to celebrate a victory by 285 runs.

Ben Duckett top-scored with 23 but only four other players reached double figures.

Harry Podmore claimed figures of five for 41 for Kent, with Ollie Rayner building up pressure with an unbroken spell of 16 overs 12 maidens 13 runs 2 wickets.

Earlier, Kent batted on for only nine overs at the start of the day, plundering 86 further runs.

The bulk of the damage was done by Joe Denly, who moved on from his overnight 111 to close on 167 not out.

Kent’s declaration came just before 11.30am, on 363 for five.

Matt Carter bowled the opening over of the day, with his initial delivery providing a taste of what was to come, as Heino Kuhn went down on one knee to scoop the ball over ‘keeper Tom Moores.

Kuhn and Denly rattled along, extending their fourth-wicket stand to 73 in 14 overs. The Kent skipper went hard at the spinner and also at Steven Mullaney, who shared the bowling duties.

The brakes were temporarily applied to the run-scoring with the fall of two wickets. Kuhn backed away and was bowled by Carter for 42, then Ollie Robinson skied Mullaney to point for just a single.

Denly took back control, hitting a flurry of sixes – five in all – as he sped past 150 from 199 balls before the declaration came after the addition of 86 runs in just nine overs.

Ben’s Slater and Duckett began the Nottinghamshire second innings in bright, blustery conditions, with Kent posting an attacking field.

Duckett started encouragingly, hitting five fours in his 23, although Zak Crawley dropped him on 15 at third slip.

The unfortunate bowler, Podmore, didn’t have to wait long for his wicket though, as the left-hander nicked behind.

His opening burst also accounted for Chris Nash, caught behind for 7, and Joe Clarke (0), given out lbw when not playing a shot that clipped the top of his pad.

Grant Stewart entered the attack and had Samit Patel well caught by a diving Daniel Bell-Drummond at backward point for 6.

Slater and Mullaney ensured no further damage as lunch was reached on 56 for four, with 65 overs left.

Kent brought on Ollie Rayner, the Middlesex loanee, at the start of the afternoon and the spinner needed only six deliveries to have Slater caught behind for 20.

Mullaney’s innings ended on 11 when he was given out leg before wicket to Wiaan Mulder, leaving the score on 73 for six.

Left-handed duo Tom Moores and James Pattinson doggedly defied the Kent attack for 40 minutes, raising hopes of an unlikely escape. The returning Podmore banished such thoughts with the third lbw of the innings to remove Moores for 11.

With dark clouds circulating – and reports of rain imminent – Notts tried to hang on until tea but were undone as the last three wickets brought Kent their second victory of the campaign.

Pattinson, playing his final match before joining up with Australia A, steered Rayner to slip for 8.

Carter (6) became Podmore’s fifth victim and Fletcher (18) was last out, having defiantly launched Denly out of the ground for 6.

Notts now have over a week to regroup before facing Essex at home, from 30 June 2019.

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A Notts Outlaws squad brimming with international talent will commence their T20 Vitality Blast campaign against Worcestershire Rapids at Trent Bridge on Thursday 18 July, with adult tickets priced at £10. Secure your seats…