Geraint Jones and martin van Jaarsveld in action on Day 3 of Kent's defeat against Durham

by Andrew Gidley

Kent's woes in the LV= County Championship Division 1 continued after a six-wicket defeat to champions Durham at Canterbury on Thursday.

It leaves Rob Key's men without a win this season in any form of the game.

The defeat was particularly hard on Key, who shrugged off his miserable form with the bat by scoring a magnificent double hundred on the first day - the third of his career.

With wickets tumbling around him, Key smashed 261 from just 270 balls as Kent were dismissed for 424 (Steve Harmison 4-52).

Durham were indebted to two centuries as they closed to within six runs of Kent after the first innings.

England under-19 prospect Ben Stokes hit 161 not out to overshadow Dale Benkenstein's 114. Makhaya Ntini was the pick of the Kent attack with figures of 5-84 from 29 overs.

Dismissed before lunch on day three, Durham promptly dismissed Kent well before the close of play after a shocking batting collapse.

Only 44 from Martin van Jaarsveld showed any sort of resistance as Kent were skittled out for 162 in less than 50 overs.

The hosts gave themselves hope going into the final day after Ntini, Azhar Mahmood and Amjad Khan all bagged a wicket to leave Durham 37-3.

But a half-century from Ian Blackwell and 42 not out by Stokes - which included taking 26 runs off a Joe Denly over to complete the win - guided the visitors to victory.