T20 Blast: Kent hang on as Sussex come up short

Harmison's 3-35 were his best T20 figures of the season

Kent survived a late scare at Hove as they held on to win a thrilling game against Sussex by three runs.

Alex Blake made 53 not out in Kent's 149-9 before Sussex, who were 103-7 with three overs left, needed 17 from the final six balls of the game.

England's Chris Jordan (37) took Sussex close with a six off the fourth ball, but holed out on the fifth delivery to Ben Harmison off Mitch Claydon.

Stef Piolet's final-ball four was in vain as they fell short on 146-9.

Harmison (3-35) took key wickets at the start and end of the Sharks' reply.

Kent's total was largely down to Blake's bludgeoning innings from 32 balls, which included one four and five sixes.

Fast bowler Yasir Arafat (3-32), leg-spinner Will Beer (3-18) and the miserly Piolet kept the Spitfires in check.

Harmison struck two early blows as the Sharks limped to 41-5, before Beer (25 from 12 balls) and Jordan, dropped by England for the first Test match with India, took them to 129-7.

Harmison then bowled Beer to leave the home side up against it as the Spitfires eventually held on for only their fourth T20 Blast win of the season.