Sam Northeast hit 112 not out to guide Kent to back-to-back LV= County Championship Division 2 wins with a six-wicket victory over bottom side Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Northeast’s innings, his first hundred for two seasons, came off 143 balls and included 19 fours, justifying his recall to the side after being dropped due to a run of low scores, as Kent finished on 306-4, and earned 22 points.

He set-up the platform for victory with a fourth wicket stand of 116 in 26 overs with Brendan Nash who made 53, before being out shortly after lunch.

Northeast, who averaged less than 15 in championship cricket before this game, after scoring only 184 runs in 13 innings, then rushed Kent home, hitting three successive fours off spinner Jigar Naik, adding an unbeaten 80 with Darren Stevens who made 21 not out.

Kent started the day on 66-1, needing another 238, but lost Ben Harmison (40) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (53) both to catches by former wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien.

Mitch Claydon was Kent’s other stand-out player in the game, following up county best figures of 5-77 with a career best top score of 77 in Kent’s first innings total of 302, putting on 67 for the ninth wicket with Adam Riley.

He had walked out with Kent 194-7, still 23 behind, before being last man out - hitting 14 fours and a six.

Josh Cobb’s century and Rob Taylor’s career-best 98 set-up Leicestershire’s recovery on the third day. They added 175 for the sixth wicket, as the home side improved from 98-4 to make 388.

Seamer Charlie Hartley made his debut in the game finishing with figures of 3-91 from a total of 26 overs. He also provided Claydon with valuable support, staying half an hour for his two runs.

Kent now have a 10-day break from Championship cricket before facing Surrey at Guildford, beginning on Sunday July 20.