Kent (301 and 344 all out) lose to Surrey (145 all out and 501-5) by five wickets at Canterbury in County Championship Division 1

Kent were consigned to a record-breaking County Championship Division 1 defeat to Surrey in Canterbury on Wednesday.

Only once before in the County Championship had a side failed to defend more than 500 in a losing cause - and that was nearly 100 years ago - but the leaders cruised to 501-5 on day four.

Stand-in skipper Jack Leaning, deputising for dropped captain Sam Billings, reflected: “I’m not really sure where to start, to be honest. The boys are just deflated, really, and understandably.

“You put a score on the board, you think you’ve got a good crack at defending it and - at worst - coming away with a draw. Credit to Surrey, they’ve put on a real masterclass on how to chase a big score, fourth innings.

“They’re a very experienced team, there’s a lot of good players in that side, and credit to them. I feel they have won the game, rather than us losing it.” Opener Dom Sibley’s resolute unbeaten ton and Ben Foakes’ century of his own got them to victory after Jamie Smith’s 77-ball 114 had set the platform the previous evening.

Kent spinners Joe Denly (1-41) and Hamid Qadri (1-70) initially took less than 15 minutes at the start of the day to rattle through the remaining six overs before the second new ball was due.

It wasn’t long after that before the fresh Dukes cherry was given to Matt Quinn (0-61) and Australian overseas Wes Agar (1-119), with Surrey having added 14 to their overnight score of 263-3.

Foakes survived a massive lbw shout off Agar in the 86th over after he had cut the previous ball for four. But, other than that, Surrey went through the first hour without any real scares.

Indian overseas Arshdeep Singh (2-90) found some rhythm, though, and he brought an edge from the irremovable Sibley in the 98th