ONLY a resolute innings of 65 by Dimitri Mascarenhas saved another large Canterbury Week crowd from seeking alternative entertainment after Hampshire had lost five wickets in the first seven overs.

On a pitch of occasional variable bounce, Jason Laney fell driving wildly at Dean Headley in the first over and Hampshire never recovered against a Kent attack missing the injured Mark Ealham.

Julian Thompson, making a rare first-team appearance, was the pick of the bowlers as he appealed to the old-fashioned virtues of line and length to finish with the impressive figures of two for 16 from his eight overs.

Matthew Keech was the only Hampshire player to offer Mascarenhas any semblance of support before he edged Matthew Fleming to provide Steven Marsh with his 200th dismissal in this competition, only 18 short of Alan Knott's county record.

Kent sauntered towards Hampshire's inadequate total. Trevor Ward made a jaunty 30 from 37 balls before being deceived off the pitch by Peter Hartley and Ed Smith had accumulated an untroubled 31 before an unworthy hoick led to his stumps being splayed by Nixon McLean.

Carl Hooper and Nigel Llong sealed victory with almost eight overs to spare as they compiled an unbroken and carefree 51 in nine overs.