Hampshire manager Paul Terry blamed poor recent home form for ending hopes of a first Championship title in 34 years.

A comprehensive ten-wicket defeat against Kent has left Hampshire in fifth place, 17 points adrift of leaders Lancashire, going into the last match of the season against Yorkshire at Headingley next week.

Winning the Championship title is still mathematically possible, but Hampshire need to take maximum points in Leeds and hope that three other results go their way.

Hampshire will also need Lancashire to be beaten comprehensively by Surrey at the Brit Oval, Sussex to be held to a draw and fail to take maximum bonus points against Worcestershire at Hove, and Durham to fail to beat Kent at Canterbury.

Terry admits it is too much to hope for.

He said: "There would have to be an earthquake or more floods down south and for us to have good weather in Leeds) next week, but I'm a realist.

"The chance has gone. We had a good run-in but have messed it up. We had a great opportunity, especially with Sussex losing at Durham, to be in the mix going into the last game.

"But we were very poor and the last couple of home games have cost us deeply."

Hampshire lost by an innings and 37 runs against Surrey in their penultimate home match but were still hopeful of an unlikely victory at tea yesterday, when they were 193-3 after following on, needing 86 to make Kent bat again.

But they were bowled out for 282 with part-time spinners Joe Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld taking four of Hampshire's last seven wickets.

Terry said: "With all due respect to Denly and van Jaarsveld, we're disappointed with that. The guys have held their hands up and admitted they haven't batted very well, it's as simple as that.

"We weren't up to it and lost key wickets at crucial times. It's hard to win or save games when you're doing that."

Hampshire conceded 495 in Kent's first-innings before being rolled out for 216 yesterday morning.

Terry added: "There are no two ways about it, it was a poor performance all round. We didn't bowl as well as we would have liked but we weren't out of it, even when they got 495 on the board."

Twelve of Hampshire's 20 wickets were taken by Kent's three spinners, but Terry has no regrets about leaving Shaun Udal out.

"It wouldn't have made any difference because we didn't get into a position to use the two spinners," insisted Terry, before confirming that Hampshire will put out as strong a side as possible at Headingley next week. "There is pride to play for and we want to finish as high as we can," he added.