Kent beat Surrey in a thriller

Surrey suffered a dramatic one-run Benson and Hedges Cup defeat in Canterbury, but qualify as the Southern group runner's up while Kent crash out.

Pursuing Kent's excellent 50-over total of 265 for nine, Surrey fell just one short when James Golding trapped last man Ed Giddins leg before with the first ball of the final over.

It left Ben Hollioake high and dry on 50 from 46 balls, gave Golding creditable figures of three for 47 and clinched Kent's second win of a disappointing qualifying series.

Surrey had Alec Stewart to thank for the solid foundations to their run chase, his sublime 92 coming from 98 balls and with 15 fours.

Mark Ealham bagged the prized scalp of Mark Ramprakash (32) with his first delivery, while home skipper Matthew Fleming sent back Graham Thorpe and Ali Brown in consecutive overs.

Adam Hollioake looked capable of winning it until a stunning catch by substitute fielder David Masters, as did his bother Ben, until Golding's late heroics.

Kent's hero was former Leicestershire 'keeper Paul Nixon who hit an unbeaten 65 to post his maiden one-day half-century for the club and collect his first gold award since moving from Grace Road.

He featured in a seventh-wicket stand with Golding (26) worth 66 in 10 overs to build on the platform of a second wicket partnership between Rob Key (45) and James Hockley (55) that added 102 in 22 overs.