KENT'S threadbare bowling attack came in for some severe punishment as Worcestershire piled on the third-day runs.

The hosts lost Stephen Peters for 117 - his second century of the match - and continued to put Kent to the sword in reaching 340 for three at the close

Peters reached three figures from 149-balls and with 16 fours before edging a cut to Niall O'Brien stood up to the stumps to Matthew Walker's occasional seamers.

Home skipper Ben Smith also notched a 150-ball century, while England one-day bat Vikram Solanki followed his first innings ton with an equally fluent 64 not out from 78-balls.

Kent's bowling attack, already without Martin Saggers, Amjad Khan, Min Patel, Mohammad Sami and Rob Ferley, were hampered by an Achilles injury to Andrew Symonds that kept him off the field for long periods and prevented him from bowling.

With a Worcestershire lead in the game of 373, Kent will hope to bat out the fourth and final day to clinch a draw.

Which, considering the absence of five first-choice players through injury of England duty, would be a satisfactory result.