KENT took 13 wickets in three sessions in a bid to force victory inside two days, but were unable to break the resolve of the students from Cardiff University Centre of Cricketing Excellence.

Responding to Kent's first day total of 443 for six, the Welsh part-timers were rolled over for 171 inside 72 overs in their first innings enticing Kent to invite them to bat again 272 behind in the hope that Rob Key's side might secure victory and with it a day off.

Yet the visitors dug in second time around and, in the face of some pretty benign county bowling, made it through to the close on 114 for three to easily take the game into its third and final day.

That had seemed unlikely at the start of the day when Kent's virtually full-strength attack seemed keen to get the game over in a hurry.

Robbie Joseph got the ball rolling with the wicket of Chris Smith with his first ball of the day from the Pavilion End where he got one to lift, take the splice of the bat and loop to Darren Stevens in the gully.

In his next over Joseph had Carwin James caught behind after he feathered a leg-cutter into the gloves of Geraint Jones to go without scoring.

Ryan McLaren then claimed his first wicket at St Lawrence when he trimmed the off stump of Ridian Harries as the young left-hander from Glamorgan pushed down the line of middle.

McLaren was replaced at the Nackington Road End by Stevens, whose accuracy proved too much for the visiting batsmen. Stevens snared Patrick Fallis leg before with his first ball and then Richard Kaufman went the same way to make it 58 for five in only the 28th over of the reply.

James Tredwell's first delivery of the day accounted for Middlesex 2nd all-rounder Simon Butler leg before, but thereafter Kent slackened their grip allowing the students, who lost by an innings to Hampshire last week, to spend more time in the middle.

Karl Tudge (24), Morgan Rushbrook (28) and Jakon Eddnes (23) all enjoyed cameo knocks before Joseph and McLaren returned to finally polish the innings off.

Admittedly, Kent were hampered with the loss of Martin Saggers, who went off the field mid-afternoon with an apparent hamstring injury, he returned to field late in the day but did not bowl. Even so, this was not a bowling performance likely to inspire Key with confidence going into next week's LV Championship re-match with Sussex.

It was left to Joseph (3-28), McLaren (2-26), Stevens (3-32) and James Tredwell (2-33) to share the wickets.

Cardiff UCCE went out to bat again at 3.45pm, but in the remaining 195 minutes of the day Kent were only able to prize out three more wickets.

McLaren pegged back Smith's middle stump as the right-hander worked across the line in the fourth over and then the South African Kolpak signing had Ridian Harries caught behind for 19.

After tea Neil Dexter accounted for Butler (15) when Joe Denly pulled off a stunning one-handed overhead catch at extra cover.

Yet that proved Kent's final success of the day as Patrick Fallis (16) and Carwin James with a stoic 107-ball half century made it through to stumps on 114 for three.

The match concludes on Thursday with play scheduled to start at 11am.

Scores: Kent 443-6 dec. Cardiff UCCE 171 and 114 for three.