WORCESTERSHIRE'S National League season touched a new low at Canterbury when they threw away an excellent chance of regaining pole position in the race for the division one title, losing by 44 runs.

Jamie Pipe led a blistering assault on the Kent bowlers as Worcestershire chased a target of 229 with a six and a four in David Masters' first over. Then the New Road rookie enjoyed another slice of good fortune when Martin McCague dropped him at midwicket on 23.

Kent's slip-shod fielding led to them conceding nine extra runs through overthrows and, when Martin Saggers missed another catch, Pipe, playing only his third National League game, must have thought it was his day.

But his luck ran out next ball when he chipped McCague into the hands of Rahul Dravid at mid-on. He made 45 off 24 balls

Pipe's departure led to Worcestershire's demise and despite skipper Steve Rhodes (40) and Richard Illingworth's (20) late resistance the County finished well short.

Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki only lasted a total of eight balls and from 80-0 Worcestershire slipped to 110-7.

Kent's victory, their third in a row, increases their chances of avoiding the drop to division two which looked a real possibility a fortnight ago.

They won the toss and although Matthew Walker and Steve Marsh went early, the big danger was Indian Test Star Dravid.

He followed up his fine unbeaten half-century against Lancashire with his first one-day hundred for Kent.

It might have all been different had Elliott Wilson not put him down at backward point off Chris Liptrot when he had made only one.

Dravid and James Hockley (64) added 99 in 24 overs, before Richard Illingworth bowled him, as he aimed an off-side cut.

Alan Wells was snapped up by Hick, fourth ball off Glenn McGrath (3-17 in nine overs), but then Paul Nixon joined Dravid and launched a rapid fifth wicket stand of 85 in 11 overs.

Liptrot conceded 13 off one over and two overs from Hick and David Leatherdale cost another 33.

Dravid reached his ton off 98 balls including 11 fours and two sixes, his second fifty coming off only 31 deliveries to take Kent to 228-8.