Kent appeared to be limping toward a three-day defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Nottinghamshire after losing five wickets in Friday's first session to go in at lunch on 104 for five.

After a 10 minute delay for bad light the hosts resumed on 14-0, still trailing by 258 on first innings, yet it soon became clear that Kent's top order didn't fancy the challenge of batting throughout a bone-numbingly cold day simply to make the visitors bat again.

Skipper Rob Key (3) was first to go, pushing at Darren Pattinson's sixth ball of the day from the Nackington Road end he edged a catch to keeper Chris Read low off the bottom of his bat.

Joe Denly tried to counter attack and moved quickly to 27 but he too went to a catch by Read, in trying to withdraw from a Charlie Shreck lifter the ball cut back in, ran down the face of the bat and gave Read the simplest of chances.

Matt Walker (6) went in similar fashion after fencing at a ball from Pattinson that reared up then Darren Stevens (7) played away from his body at a Paul Franks leg-cutter to edge to Will Jefferson at second slip.

Kent's demise continued when Geraint Jones flashed outside off stump against Franks, the ball was parried by Read but again Jefferson was on hand to scoop up the rebound at second slip.