Kent wrapped up a fantastic victory at Wantage Road before lunch on the third day, beating Northamptonshire by an innings and 120 runs, as Matt Coles excelled, picking up 6-51.

After a supreme Michael Powell century yesterday, Kent picked up four late wickets before the close of play leaving Northants staring down the barrel before play even began on the third day.

With the home side resuming on 50-4, seamer Coles made the first breakthrough of the morning, removing Northants captain David Sales for 42 to leave the score on 69-5.

Spinner James Middlebrook was the next man in, and he went for 9, Mark Davies picking up his only wicket of the innings, Geraint Jones collecting his first of four catches of the day’s play.

Chaminda Vaas came in and was only able to add one run before he fell, lbw to James Tredwell, his first wicket of the match, leaving Northants in disarray at 85-7.

Next in was David Willey, who made an aggressive 24 in the first innings; this time he only made 8, Coles taking his fourth wicket of the innings, Jones again taking the catch, as James Brooks, who took five wickets in the Kent innings, came in at number nine.

Matt Coles did for him before too long though; Brooks going for a sixth ball duck, with Kent well on the way to an impressive victory, with the home side nine down for 98.

Wicket keeper Niall O’Brien, who had come in at number six, was still at the other end and would go on to make an unbeaten 25 from 115 balls.

Last man in, and before too long, out, was Lee Daggett, who made 15 from 19 balls, becoming Coles’ sixth victim, leaving Northamptonshire all out for 116.

Completing the victory in just over half the allotted match time shows a vast improvement this season for Kent, who suffered an innings defeat away to their opponents in the corresponding feature last season almost exactly a year ago today.

And impressive performances throughout the team – a solid and effective bowling performance in the first innings, Michael Powell’s majestic unbeaten 128 not out, and Matt Coles’ 6-51 to finish it off – will hopefully leave the team in good stead heading into their first home game of the season starting on Thursday April 19 against Gloucestershire at Canterbury.

Northamptonshire side: Peters, Newton, Coetzer, Sales, Wakely, O’Brien, Middlebrook, Vaas, Willey, Daggett, Brooks.

Kent side: Newman, Key, Harmison, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Shreck.

Final result: Kent 368 (Powell 128*, Jones 53, Brooks 5-98) beat Northamptonshire 132 (Coles 3-32) and 116 (Coles 6-51) by an innings and 120 runs.