Sussex self-destructed as they lost their opening game in the NatWest T20 Blast by seven runs at Kent.

The Sharks looked to be cruising towards Kent’s total of 185-9 when they reached 142-2 after 15 overs having been given an explosive start by Luke Wright and Chris Nash.

But the wheels came off when Mahela Jayawardene fell for 39 and a superb penultimate over from Mitch Claydon proved decisive as they finished on 178-6.

Earlier, Ollie Robinson had taken 3-35 on his Twenty20 debut for Sussex while Will Beer was the pick of the bowlers with 1-19 as Sussex pegged Kent back after a good start.

Robinson dismissed Daniel Bell-Drummond with only his second ball but Kent recovered from that early setback as Sam Northeast and Joe Denly put on 64 for the second wicket off 39 balls.

Denly was trapped lbw trying to sweep Yardy for 37 but Sam Billings and Northeast maintained Kent’s momentum.

The pair added 43 off 27 balls and Kent appeared set for a big total when they reached 117-2 after 12 overs.

But the spin of Yardy and Will Beer helped Sussex peg the home side back, Beer making an important breakthrough when he had Northeast caught by Yardy for 40.

Beer finished with figures of 1-19 from his four overs while Yardy removed the dangerous Darren Stevens for two to return 2-36.

Robinson picked up the key wicket of Billings for 46 and also had Alex Blake caught at deep square leg as he finished with impressive figures of 3-35.

Fabian Cowdrey bashed 24 from just 12 balls to restore some impetus at the end of Kent’s innings as they finished on 185-9.

Nash and Wright gave Sussex the ideal start in reply as they smashed 62 off the six over powerplay.

The pair had put on 81 from 46 balls when Wright holed out at long on in James Tredwell’s first over for 36.

Nash reached his tenth Twenty20 50 from 37 balls and put on 31 with Mahela Jayawardene before he was bowled for 61 coming down the track at Matt Coles.

Jayawardene then took up the baton with some sweetly timed strokes but inexplicably hit a full toss from Coles straight to a fielder at deep square leg on 39 when he looked set to take Sussex to victory.

Matt Machan was run out as the equation became increasingly difficult for Sussex and they were left needing 18 runs from the last over which proved too much for Craig Cachopa and Robinson.