ECB pitch consultant Chris Wood inspects the St Lawrence Ground pitch with head groundsman Andy Pierson. Picture by Ady Kerry.

Kent have been docked eight points for preparing a 'poor' pitch at Canterbury for their six-wicket win over Essex.

The home side wrapped up victory before lunch on the third day, with David Balcombe finishing with a 10-wicket match haul - his first in county cricket - after collecting 4-51 in the second innings.

Balcombe had taken 6-51 on the opening day as the visitors were skittled for just 144 inside 54 overs, just four batsmen reaching double-figures.

Joe Denly (55) got the reply off to a good start but it needed a near-century stand from Geraint Jones (54) and James Tredwell (47) to ensure Kent were eventually dismissed for 260.

With a first innings deficit of 114, Essex's job was made all the harder as Balcombe picked up where he left off, collecting three of the first four wickets to fall with Essex still well in arrears.

James Foster amassed 49 not out but he eventually ran out of partners, with five departing for the addition of just 30 runs, and Balcombe collected the final wicket of Tom Craddock after the visitors had resumed on 180-9 on the third morning.

Kent were left chasing just 70 for victory and despite Graham Napier (3-42) helping reduce the hosts to 35-4, skipper Jones' 14-ball knock of 28 saw his side home.

Kent recorded 21 points for the victory but were immediately docked eight of them after ECB pitch panelists John Jameson and Tony Pigott ruled the pitch was 'poor' and has shown excessively uneven bounce.

Essex head coach Paul Grayson claimed the pitch was 'one of the worst Championship wickets I've seen in a long time."