NEEDING 304 to avoid the follow on, Kent sent in Rob Key and Michael Carberry to open the reply at Worcestershire today in their Frizzell Championship clash but got off to a poor start.

Carberry went caught behind for just eight, edging a defensive push against Andy Bichel. Ed Smith then went lbw for one, leaving Kent on 36 for two at lunch.

After the interval Andrew Symonds and Key pushed the score along to 105 for two. All-rounder Symonds was going along nicely on 60 with Key on 29.

Earlier in the day, Kent's England Under-19 fast bowler Simon Cusden struck after an hour's play on day two.

Resuming on their overnight score of 356 for seven, the New Road side were finally dismissed for 453 after 127.2 overs.

Cusden switched to bowling around the wicket from the New Road End and the move paid dividends when he plucked out Batty's off stump with a quick yorker.

At the other end, Kabir Ali reached 31 and was joined by ninth wicket partner and skipper Steve Rhodes, but the stand added just nine before Ali went.

Cusden was replaced by Symonds who struck in his second over by having Ali caught behind by Niall O'Brien from an edged drive.

A swarm of bees then crossed the ground to halt play for a couple of minutes. Several of Kent's outfielders lay prostrate on the ground to avoid being stung as the swarm flew overhead.

The action resumed with a sting in the tail when Worcestershire's last man Matthew Mason hit three sixes in one over from Symonds to reach 35 from 24 balls before losing his 10th wicket partner Rhodes. In aiming to work to leg Rhodes top-edged of James Tredwell to give O'Brien a comfortable catch.