Kent crashed to a humiliating eight-wicket defeat inside two days against Northamptonshire in the LV= County Championship Division 2 clash at Wantage Road.

It was Kent’s third consecutive defeat in the competition and leaves them firmly entrenched at the bottom of the ladder.

Kent were all-out for 151 in just the 39th over of their second innings leaving the home side needing just 46 to win, something they took just nine overs to do. Darren Stevens finished with 1-21 and Ivan Thomas 1-8.

Earlier, opener Joe Denly top-scored with 39 with fellow opener Daniel Bell-Drummond (10) and Stevens (28) the only other batsmen to reach double figures for Kent as paceman Olly Stone finished with a career-best 5-44.

The Kent innings started disastrously, losing Bell-Drummond and Rob Key (1) before lunch, both falling leg before to Rory Kleinveldt (3-44) and Muhammed Azharullah (2-16) respectively as Kent reached 38-2 at the break.

Captain Sam Northeast (4) was then bowled by Kleinveldt before Denly and Stevens added 42 for the fourth wicket.

However when Stone broke the stand, Stevens edging to slip, Kent collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for 51 runs.

Stone trapped Adam Ball (7) leg before Denly top-edged an attempted pull to be caught at fine leg.

Tredwell (9) and Matt Coles (2) came and went as Stone completed his second first-class five wicket haul.

Azharullah and Kleinveldt returned to share the final two wickets as Kent were bowled out in under 40 overs for the second time in the match.

Earlier, Richard Levi hit a half century as Northamptonshire extended their first innings lead to 106 before being bowled out for 246 after resuming the day on 193-7.

Levi added 38 for the eighth wicket with Steven Crook (22) before he was trapped leg before by Stevens (3-56).

Kleinveldt departed next ball after edging Stevens to Tredwell at slip.

Levi brought up his half century with a six over mid wicket off Mitch Claydon (2-62) before Claydon bowled him without addition two balls later. Matt Coles finished with 4-83 off 24 overs.

Kent were dismissed for 140 in their first innings on Sunday after Saturday's first day was washed out before fighting back to restrict Northamptonshire to 193-7.

After losing openers Denly (8) and Bell-Drummond (12) early, Kent were well placed at 93-2 10 minutes before lunch.

That all changed within the space of 19-balls with Key (35), Sam Northeast (36), Stevens (0) and Tredwell (0) all departing for the addition of four runs.

Forty-four balls after lunch, Kent were all-out with Azharullah (5-31) and Kleinveldt (5-41) leading the carnage.