Kent completed their fourth victory of the Specsavers County Championship season as they defeated Nottinghamshire by 227 runs before tea on the third day at Trent Bridge.
Darren Stevens, who dominated the opening two days by scoring 88 and then taking five wickets in Nottinghamshire’s first innings, was again to the fore as the home county fell short of a nominal victory target of 440.
Stevens claimed figures of five for 53 second time around, as Notts were bowled out for 212 in 51.2 overs.
Kent chose to bat on for a short while at the start of the day, before being bowled out for 259 in their second innings. Ravi Ashwin took the final two wickets to finish with five for 89.
Harry Podmore was bowled for 16, swishing vigorously at the spinner, before Jordan Cox, who had resumed his innings after retiring hurt on the second day, was given out lbw for 20.
It was the India international's ninth wicket of the match.
Notts sprang something of a surprise by sending Steven Mullaney and Ben Duckett out to open at the start of their chase – Ben Slater and Jake Libby had combined at the top of the order in the first innings.
The first wicket duo added 27 before Mullaney elected not to play at Darren Stevens and was castled in the sixth over.
Two balls later Chris Nash followed, struck lbw having also opted to leave the ball alone.
Duckett had played positively for his 20 but then deflected a Podmore delivery onto the stumps. Slater was also dismissed in the session, given out lbw to Stevens for 19 – the all-rounder completing a spectacular match with his 500th wicket for the county.
Matt Milnes bowled Libby with the final ball of the morning session to send the hosts into the break on 91 for five.
Two convincing boundary shots from Tom Moores were followed by a tame steer to point but Kent’s victory celebrations were put on hold as Ashwin and Paul Coughlin combined in a defiant partnership of 75 which spanned 92 minutes.
Stevens returned to the attack to accelerate the outcome by having Coughlin caught behind for 39.
Ashwin, who had reached his 50 from 77 balls, fell to Rayner at the other end and the tail didn’t delay anyone for too long, giving Kent their first double over Notts since 2003.
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