ESSEX'S dream of lifting the Twenty20 Cup was shot down by the Kent Spitfires at the Rose Bowl.
Chasing 174 to win, the Eagles made a bright start with Ravi Bopara and skipper Mark Pettini adding 78 for the first wicket.
However, the departure of Bopara (29) to James Tredwell and big-hitter Graham Napier - brilliantly caught by Rob Key off Simon Cook - was followed by the calamitous run outs of Grant Flower (17) and Pettini (54).
And although Ryan ten Doeschate (18 from nine balls) briefly threatened to bring Essex back into proceedings, the Pakistan duo of Yasir Arafat and Azhar Mahmood returned to dismiss the Dutch star, James Foster and Tim Phillips.
And with that, the Eagles' chances disappeared as Kent celebrated a 15-run victory.
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