Kent tasted defeat for the first time this season after Hampshire inflicted a six-wicket defeat in the opening Royal London One-Day Cup game.

A superb unbeaten century from opener Tom Alsop guided the visitors to victory with 29 balls to spare on a cold and occasionally damp day at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, after Kent had posted a modest 258 all-out having made a bright start after being asked to bat first.

Darren Stevens led the way once again with a typically breezy 60 but it was not enough to trouble the visitors who cantered home despite an interruption for drizzle.

Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly's promising white-ball opening partnership from last summer continued to blossom with the pair compiling 94 for the opening wicket in 15 overs.

Denly fell to Liam Dawson (2-41) for 46 from 45 balls while his replacement Sean Dickson followed him back three balls before the midpoint after a less fluid 20 from 35 deliveries.

Bell-Drummond departed at the end of the 26th over to make it 131-3 and Kent struggled to get any momentum thereafter.

Sam Northeast (17), Alex Blake (9) and Wayne Parnell (3) didn't linger as Kent slipped to 194-6 though Darren Stevens continued his fine form to drag his side past 200 and reached his 46th List A century with the help of three big sixes.

Adam Rouse (12) and Matt Coles (1) couldn't stay with Stevens who eventually holed-out to James Vince for 60 from 57 balls to become one of three scalps for Reece Topley (3-65).

James Tredwell made the most of the 16 remaining balls to finish with 19 not out while Mitch Claydon (6) departed with two balls left with the score on 258.

The reply began in perfect fashion for the hosts as Parnell trapped former Kent man Michael Carberry lbw with the second ball of the first over, however his fellow opener Tom Alsop proven an altogether different proposition.

Alsop added 112 in 16 overs with Vince, 35 of them coming from four Matt Coles overs, before Vince was trapped by Stevens for a fine 69 from 50 balls.

Alsop reached his half-century in 61 balls and despite Claydon accounting for Dawson (19) and Jimmy Adams (22), Alsop joined Sean Ervine (33 not out) to add 82 for the fifth wicket and guide their side home with Alsop reaching his second List A ton on his way to 112 not out, featuring 12 fours.

Kent return to action at Somerset on Tuesday (11am).