MOST of the Surrey players do not have names or numbers on their new navy blue-and-chocolate sweaters, and it seemed a good idea to remain anonymous when Kent were making short work of a target of 224 in a match reduced to 30 overs after morning rain delayed the start by more than three hours.

Kent needed 37 from 32 balls with nine wickets in hand yesterday when Neil Dexter, who made 94 off 72 balls, with three sixes and nine fours, lifted Ian Salisbury to deep extra cover and triggered an astonishing collapse in which they lost four wickets for one run.

Matthew Walker, Martin van Jaarsveld and Robert Key all fell tamely and, although a desperate late assault from Justin Kemp and James Tredwell took them within two runs of victory, it was Kent who wanted to hide their shame.

Jonathan Batty, Mark Butcher and Alistair Brown took Surrey to a competitive total but their efforts seemed to be in vain when Dexter and Darren Stevens were putting on 138 in 19 overs against an attack missing Martin Bicknell, Jimmy Ormond, Mohammad Akram, Azhar Mahmood and Rikki Clarke. Then Salisbury made the breakthrough, claiming Stevens leg-before for 67, and Jade Dernbach picked up two wickets in four balls before keeping his head in the final, decisive over.