Kent secured the fifth win of their LV County Championship promotion push by chasing down 318 inside 71 overs to beat Derbyshire by three wickets and with only 19 balls to spare.

Home skipper Rob Key and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones led the pursuit, each scoring their third first-class hundred of the summer as Kent cantered along at almost 4.5 an over to land their first win over Derbyshire at St Lawrence since 1993.

Having skittled Derbyshire out for 303 by taking their last six

wickets in 80 minutes of the final morning, Kent made a dismal start to

their run chase when Joe Denly (three) dragged an attempted drive onto his leg stump in only the second over.

Key and Jones combined to bat through the mid-session in a second wicket stand that laid firm foundations by adding 175 in 46 overs. Both men posted their first hundreds against Derbyshire; Key's from 144

balls and with 15 fours while Jones reached the milestone from 178

balls with two sixes and seven boundaries.

The stand ended soon after tea when Key chipped a catch to long-off,

but Jones joined forces with Martin van Jaarsveld to add impetus with

83 for the third wicket in only 13 overs.

Van Jaarsveld who, before going out to bat penned a new three-year contract extension keeping him at Kent to the end of the 2012 season, reached a chanceless 50 from 44 balls with five fours and a six as the

hosts honed in on victory.

There was still time for a late twist as Jones, without adding to his hundred, and Van Jaarsveld (51) holed out in the deep, then Darren Stevens (29) went leg before with only 11 required to make it 307 for

six.

With the scores tied Ryan McLaren (five) toe-ended a catch to short mid- wicket, leaving James Tredwell and Wayne Parnell to win it with a

scrambled bye.

Key's side set up the opportunity to beat their nearest rivals by

taking Derbyshire's last six wickets for 69 runs in a frenetic 19-over session at the start of today's play.

Without the injured Simon Cook and McLaren, who both picked up niggling injuries during the game, Key turned to Justin Kemp to open his attack and it proved an inspired choice as the tall South African

bagged three for 12 to double his season's tally.

The rout started when Kemp pegged back the off stump of Wavell Hinds

as he shouldered arms to an off-cutter, then Freddie Klokker was caught at the wicket after Kemp extracted extra bounce.

Tim Groenewald nicked a drive to give Kemp a third wicket and Jones a fourth victim behind the stumps and Kent continued their sweep through

the tail courtesy of Tredwell, who enjoyed a fine game in taking eight

wickets, four in each innings, and scoring a match aggregate 89 runs unbeaten.