Kent skipper Sam Northeast vowed the Spitfires will bounce back after their comprehensive nine-wicket T20 defeat at the hands of Gloucestershire.

The visitors cruised to victory with nearly three overs to spare at Beckenham on Friday night after a tight bowling display and explosive start to the run-chase, with NatWest T20 Blast South Group leaders Kent failing to mount much of a fight with bat or ball.

Northeast - captain in the continued absence of Rob Key - admitted his side's performance was 'timid.'

He said: "We never really got going. I don’t think anyone really went out and expressed themselves with the bat, which was disappointing when you consider what we have done in this competition to date.

“It felt like, having won four already, that we just expected to turn up and win, but this game doesn’t work like that. Our guys will have to go back individually and have a look at themselves and what they put in tonight."

Kent remained top with closest rivals Hampshire also losing heavily and Northeast added: "We’re still very much in the competition so we’ll dust ourselves off, re-group, and go at the next game (against Hampshire at Canterbury on Friday, June 12) a lot harder than we did here tonight.”