Kent’s shortcomings were again horribly exposed on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash with Lancashire at Canterbury on Tuesday.

The visitors need just four more wickets on day four to complete a comprehensive victory in a game they have dominated from start to finish.

Kent opener Ben Compton admitted: “The scores speak for themselves to be honest. I don’t think there’s any denying we’ve been completely outskilled in this match and probably the other matches, too.

“Whether it’s following on from the white ball matches and it’s kind of seeped into here, but actually we’ve not quite executed our skills well enough.

“I know that’s a cliché but at the end of the day that’s what’s happening. We’ve been on the receiving end of an excellent blueprint on how to play four-day cricket.

“You make the most of the bowling conditions on the first day, get us out for a score that was probably 100 shy at least and then there were three glorious days of sunshine and they made us toil.

“We spent a lot of time in the field, were unable to get them out and all those sorts of things add difficulty to batting. Following on there’s pressure, they’ve got their tails up, you’re a bit tired, you know these things happen and unfortunately we’ve just been completely outskilled.

“There’s no lack of effort, just in terms of what we’re delivering it isn’t quite good enough to be honest. We’ve got to try and see what we can salvage tomorrow.

“Everyone’s maintaining the highest levels of professionalism, we’re trying our very best but it boils down to the skill factor at the end of the day.”

Lancashire reduced Kent to 143-6 at stumps, still trailing by 162 with overseas duo Charlie Stobo (25 not out) and Beyers Swanepoel (18 not out) at the crease.

Lancashire declared on 549-9, a lead of 305, with Josh Bohannon making 205 and Matty Hurst 50, while George Garrett took 3-89.

Will Williams and Tom Bailey then both took two wickets apiece in Kent’s second innings, with Ben Compton top scoring on 37.

Earlier, Bohannon reached his double-hundred with a pushed single off Matt Parkinson, before his former teammate finally got him out lbw with a ball that might have been going down the leg side.

Hurst eased to fifty with a single off Joey Evison but he was then stumped by Harry Finch when he tried to charge at Parkinson.

It was 499-6 at lunch and Garrett took all three of his wickets after the interval. Jack Blatherwick tried to hit him out of the ground and went for 18, caught by sub fielder Jaydn Denly.

Garrett then had George Balderson caught behind for 42 and when Bailey skied him to Parkinson, Lancashire declared.

They didn’t have to wait long for a wicket as Williams had Marcus O’Riordan caught at first slip by George Bell for four in the fourth over.

Nathan Lyon came on after 12 overs but it was Balderson who struck next, pinning Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw for nine to leave Kent on 59-2 at tea.

Compton always looked like being the key wicket but he inexplicably tried to slog Bailey and the ball flew in the air off his bottom edge. He spread his arms wide in despair well before Bell took the catch.

Williams sent Evison’s off stump flying for 10, Bailey had Tawanda Muyeye caught behind for a six-ball duck and Finch lasted for 56 balls for 23 until Lyon had him caught by Bohannon at mid-on.

Swanepoel, who’d been unable to bowl, came out with O’Riordan as a runner and caused confusion by running anyway, but he and Stobo at least managed to drop anchor for the final 11.4 overs to take the game to a final day.