Darren Stevens smashed 56 from 27 balls as Kent beat Hampshire by eight runs in the first ever Twenty20 Cup game to be staged at Tunbridge Wells.
Rob Key (58 not out) was also in the runs as the home side racked up 184-2 after winning the toss.
Michael Lumb's 51 and a fourth-wicket stand of 72 between Michael Carberry (39) and Chris Benham (36) left Hants needing 14 from the final over.
But Ryan McLaren conceded just five runs to leave the visitors on 174-7.
The South African bowled Benham before Dimitri Mascarenhas and Nic Pothas were run out as Kent leapfrogged Hampshire into second place in the South Division.
Earlier, Key put the disappointment of playing in just one of England's ICC World Twenty20 games behind him to share 78 for the fourth wicket with Stevens.
Stevens struck two fours and four sixes as he took his season's tally in the Twenty20 Cup to 197 runs, at an average of 98.5.
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