Lancashire v Kent

A counter attacking innings of 91 from 88 balls by former England Test wicketkeeper Geraint Jones gave Kent a slender, yet potentially vital first innings lead of 40 on an action packed day that saw 15 wickets fall in Aigburth.

Kent went in at stumps on a rain-reduced day of 73 overs having reached 147-5 in reply to Lancashire’s dismal first innings total of 107.

Jones hit 16 fours in his two-hour stay that turned the course of events firmly Kent’s way.

With opening bat Joe Denly incapacitated by a migraine and unable to bat, Kent were forced to shuffle their pack.

James Tredwell (4) was pushed in as emergency opener but lasted on five balls before he pushed down the wrong line to go leg before to Glen Chapple.

In pursuit of quick runs on this tricky pitch, Kent promoted Jones to go in at No3 in a move that paid big dividends as Jones went for his shots.

He enjoyed his first let off when on 17 as Stuart Law downed a low, one-handed chance at second slip off Chapple.

Skipper Rob Key (4) had no such luck however, pushing half forward in defence to a shooting off-cutter he went lbw to Oliver Newby.

Three overs later Martin van Jaarsveld (4) shouldered arms to a Chapple in-ducker to become the third leg before victim of the innings and at 55-3 Kent also appeared in trouble.

But Jones, with a rattling 32-ball 50 and Darren Stevens (30) rode their luck to post the first 78 in 18 overs.

Stevens was on eight when he was dropped, again by Law at second slip, but this time off a regulation chance off the bowling of Newby then Jones, on 67, was downed by a diving Paul Horton at slip with Kent still trailing by four runs.

Stevens fell five overs from stumps when, in pushing forward late at a Newby off-cutter he lost his off stump then, in Newby’s next over, Jones was trapped lbw by another off-cutter leaving Justin Kemp (3) and night watchman Robbie Joseph (1) to survive to the close in the sunniest conditions of the day.

Lancashire innings

Relegation threatened Lancashire were skittled out for 107 inside 39 overs - their lowest score in three years - as Kent’s buoyant Kent attack made good use of a helpful Aigburth pitch.

After a rain-delayed start until 1pm, Robbie Joseph removed both openers and went on to bag 3-37, Amjad Khan bowled three with near identical deliveries in his best spell for two seasons of 3-10, while Ryan McLaren and Yasir Arafat each bagged a brace as Lancashire capitulated inside three hours.

Only three red rose players reached double figures, four bagged ducks and extras were top-scorer with 42 as Kent pushed the hosts a step closer to Division 2.

The home demise began as early as the fourth over when Joseph had Horton (9) caught behind then, three overs later, Karl Brown (0) was squared up by an Arafat away-swinger to be caught at slip.

With the score still on 22 Mark Chilton (9) was snared leg before by Joseph, who was then replaced at the Pavilion End by Khan who proceeded to take three wickets in eight overs all to near identical deliveries that pegged back the off stump of Law (4), Francois Du Plessis (12) and Chapple (0).

Then, just before the interval, Tom Smith snicked a second of three catches to keeper Jones off another excellent ball from McLaren.

After tea Gary Keedy (4) had his stumps re-arranged after attempting to drive at Joseph, then Croft’s stoic effort for 38 ended when he edged behind against Arafat.

Kent: Key, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Kemp, Stevens, McLaren, Jones, Arafat, Tredwell, Khan, Joseph. 12th man: Saggers.

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