KENT face an uphill struggle to save the game in their Festival Week clash with Hampshire after the visitors posted a first innings lead of 269.

Shane Warne declared with his side on 554 for seven leaving Kent with a major challenge to avoid an innings defeat.

By the close on day three, the hosts had reached 29 without loss, but skipper Rob Key, who is unbeaten with 19, realises his side will have to bat well to prevent Warne and Co. forcing a win.

A day that started with John Crawley in centre stage, scoring a sumptuous 189 from 295 balls, ended with Dimitri Mascarenhas to the fore as Crawley’s stay was made to look pedestrian by a flash 131 from 151 balls from Mascarenhas.

Though Amjad Khan bowled with vigour to remove Crawley and Sean Ervine (15) he received little support and the Hampshire middle order were allowed to make hay.

It did not help Kent's cause that their former England pace bowler Martin Saggers limped out of the game in mid-afternoon with a recurrence of the heel injury that dogged his early season.

Dom Thorneley and Nic Pothas both raced to half-centuries and Warne hit an unbeaten 44 before he declared the innings 12 overs from the close on day three.

Kent openers Key (19) and David Fulton (10) survived to the close to reduce the deficit to 240 and ensure that, with a day remaining, a rain-affected draw appears to be the likeliest result if Kent can bat to their expectations.

Scorecard

Kent first innings

D P Fulton lbw b Thornely 14
R W T Key c Carberry b Thornely 27
M van Jaarsveld b Tremlett 34
M J Walker c Warne b Mascarenhas 52
D I Stevens c Ervine b Tremlett 8
D Bravo c Warne b Ervine 31
G O Jones lbw b Warne 35
T Henderson c Ervine b Warne 59
A Khan not out 5
M M Patel c Ervine b Udal 1
M J Saggers b Warne 0

Extras 19

Total 285 all out after 93.4 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-38, 2-56, 3-114, 4-132, 5-173, 6-186, 7-277, 8-282, 9-285.

Bowling: Bruce 11-4-31-0, Tremlett 16-3-56-2, Thornely 17-2-62-2, Mascarenhas 19-10-29-1, Ervine 6-2-18-1, Warne 11.4-1-26-3, Udal 13-2-54-1.

Hampshire first innings

M A Carberry lbw b Khan 0
J H K Adams c Key b Stevens 38
J P Crawley c Jones b Khan 189
S M Ervine c Jones b Khan 15
D J Thornely c Jones b Henderson 52
N Pothas c&b van Jaarsveld 52
A D Mascarenhas c Stevens b Petel 131
S K Warne not out 44

Extras 33

Total 554 for seven declared

Fall of wicket: 1-3, 2-148, 3-193, 4-308, 5-312, 6-486, 7-554.

Bowling: Khan 27-4-86-3, Henderson 24-7-84-1, Bravo 19-3-92-0, Saggers 15.2-1-59-0, Stevens 23.4-5-73-1, Patel 31.3-5-108-1, van Jaarsveld 5-1-37-1.

Kent second innings

D P Fulton not out 10
R W T Key not out 19

Extras 0

Total 29 without loss after 12 overs

Bowling: Bruce 4-1-15-0, Mascarenhas 3-012-0, Warne 3-2-1-0, Ervine 2-1-1-0.

Bonus points: Kent 3pts, Hampshire 8pts.