Kent Spitfires sit rock bottom of the Vitality Blast South group after losing by 22 runs at Essex on Thursday night.

After the hosts posted 187-3, Spitfires were going well midway through their reply before falling short on 165-5.

Kent opener Tawanda Muyeye, who hit a T20 best of 73, said: “The lads are disappointed, it has been a disappointing T20 competition for a lot of the guys - me included.

“We are a bit down and can't qualify, which sucks.

“When we walked off and saw 187 we were pretty happy with that - with our batting line-up we can easily chase that down.

“We were definitely ahead of the game for a lot of the game. Marcus O’Riordan took the pressure off me while I just nudged it around.

“It has been a process in the last couple of weeks where I've got back into a rhythm and started feeling like my old self. There have been some signs of being fluent.

"I know we didn't win but personally my luck feels like it is changing.”

Essex’s victory bucked the trend at Chelmsford, which had seen the side batting first win just one of the previous 11 matches.

The powerplay belonged to Essex as Adam Rossington hit 36, while Dean Elgar ticked along unspectacularly – making 50-1 in six overs after Rossington hit the last ball of the powerplay from Nathan Gilchrist to mid-on.

Michael Pepper took over the aggressive nature with three successive fours off Joey Evison, ahead of a four-six combo off Matt Parkinson (2-29) – the only boundaries he conceded.

Elgar (33) holed out to long on in the 12th over and it was 116-3 in the 14th when Pepper was caught by Muyeye at deep mid-wicket for 34 off 20 balls.

Paul Walter and Matt Critchley then took 67 from the final five overs, the former making 46 not out off 27 balls and Critchley an unbeaten 31 from 19 balls.

Sam Cook marked his return from a hamstring injury sustained against Kent in the championship in May with 1-21.

T20 debutant Eathan Bosch (1-25) took the wicket of Daniel Bell-Drummond for one in the third over.

His second over went for 24 as Muyeye and Marcus O’Riordan put on 85 as Kent reached 95-1 after 10 overs.

However, O’Riordan (33 off 17) was sharply caught and bowled by Shane Snater, Sam Billings (12) sliced Simon Harmer to cover and Muyeye also gave a return catch to Snater as Kent were 126-4 in the 15th over.

They were to score only 53 runs in the last eight overs with Jack Leaning carving to extra cover for 14 off 12 balls.