BRIAN LARA returned from a short visit to Trinidad to find Edgbaston as he left it last week. The pitch was the same: slow, low and not entirely reliable. The result was the same: a home victory.

Even better, Lara is back in the business of making runs. A form-seeking 60 against Lancashire was followed by a form-finding 133, his second one-day century in a summer yet to be decorated with a championship hundred.

Once Lara had reacquainted himself with his timing - an on-going process in a first 50 off 83 balls - Kent were probably out of the game. Only something exceptional by their batsmen would have corrected a dire sequence of results against Warwickshire.

Since 1989 they have lost all six NatWest Trophy meetings, four of which led to Warwickshire appearances in the final. This was their most emphatic put-down, an erratic bowling performance compounded by meek batting.

Yet they would have been pleased with their start when Dean Headley bristled with intent in taking two for 22 in eight overs.

Neil Smith was bowled barely half way up middle stump and Nick Knight checked a drive to short extra cover.

Lara was by no means immune to problems at this stage, but a costly experiment with spin, in which he swept three fours from Carl Hooper, ironed out the flaws. In 33 overs he put on 169 with David Hemp, a competition record for Warwickshire's third wicket.

Lara reached a century of escalating quality from 137 balls and less than nine overs remained when he helped a full toss to short fine leg.

Kent's target was stretched by 45 from Trevor Penney. To succeed they needed a platform or a West Indies response from Hooper.

Neither was forthcoming as Graeme Welch took four for 31 runs.