Pakistan Test bowler Danish Kaneria claimed season's best figures of six for 92 to secure Essex a vital 122-run victory over promotion-chasing Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

The 28-year-old wrist spinner recorded his fifth haul of five wickets or more for the county to inspire their second win of the LV County Championship Division Two campaign, whilst inflicting a first defeat upon hosts Kent.

Although he removed nightwatchman James Tredwell (eight) from the Pavilion End in his second over of the day, Kaneria proved even more deadly once he switched to the Railway End from where he bowled 25 of his 42-over stint.

Tredwell was the first batsman of the final day to lunge hesitantly forward to a googly and ultimately edge to slip, but he certainly was not the last Kent player to misread the magician from Karachi.

At first Kent appeared capable of batting out the final day as opener Joe Denly featured in a promising third-wicket stand worth 69 in 37 overs with Geraint Jones that ended when Kaneria turned a googly through Jones's defensive push to pluck out the former England wicketkeeper's middle stump.

Denly batted on into mid-session in posting his second successive championship hundred from 176 balls, with 15 fours and a brace of sixes.

Showing no signs of the nervous 90s, the England Lions right-hander raced into three figures with a six off Kaneria and then two glanced fours off Graham Napier all in the space of five balls.

With his score on a season's best 123, Denly's 293-minute stay ended with a complete lapse in concentration that led him so miscue an airy drive against occasional off-spinner Alistair Cook into the hands of extra cover.

Scenting victory, Essex skipper Mark Pettini withdrew Cook from the attack after his one successful over and relied on Kaneria, David Masters and Graham Napier to polish the job off.

Although dropped by Masters on 71, Martin van Jaarsveld's luck ran out only two runs later when the bowler atoned for the error by trapping the South African leg before having missed a back-foot defensive push.

Then, to the last ball before tea, Justin Kemp (six) played outside the line of another googly to go lbw and leave Kent in trouble on 321 for six.

Essex kept chipping away at their task after tea and again Kaneria was to the fore trapping Ryan McLaren (two) leg before and having Darren Stevens (43) caught at long on after a rash lofted drive.

Kaneria completed his tally by forcing Amjad Khan (16) to chop on to his off stump when trying to pierce the cover field, leaving Napier to complete the win with 15.4 overs to spare by taking a return catch off last man Robbie Joseph.