Yorkshire v Kent

AN ABDOMINAL strain that kept front-line bowler Andrew Hall out of the attack, coupled with three dropped catches ensured that Kent struggled throughout much of the third afternoon of their LV Championship match with leaders Yorkshire.

Responding to Kent's 486 all out, Yorkshire made the most of the best batting conditions of the game and Kent's fumbling in the field to cruise to 208 for two by stumps courtesy of an unbeaten 107 from Anthony McGrath and good contributions from Craig White (49) and Younis Khan (35 not out).

Hall had completed only seven overs down the Scarborough slope when he was forced off for treatment to his stomach muscles. Kent physiotherapist Nimmo Reid will treat and review the injury overnight, but the likelihood of the South African bowling again in the match appears slim.

The injury left Kent one light in the bowling department and only served to magnify their dropped chances all the more.

White was given let-offs on 13 and 19, by Darren Stevens at cover point and fourth slip Joe Denly off the bowling of Hall and Simon Cook respectively, then Cook turned sinner when downing a spiralling hook shot from the top-edge of McGrath, when on 90, after a Ryan McLaren bouncer.

Hall had given Kent an early breakthrough by having Joe Sayers caught behind down the leg-side off the gloves to make it 17 for one, but then White and McGrath joined forces to add 133 in 42 overs.

White was one short of his 50 when he too fell to a Geraint Jones catch having hung the bat out to dry against Cook.

McGrath, in the midst of a purple patch that has reaped three hundreds and four 50s in his last nine innings, only offered one tough chance and soon after he clattered a Neil Dexter half-volley through extra cover to post his 25th first-class ton and fourth against Kent from 152 balls and with 15 fours.

He was still there come stumps to receive a heroes' ovation from a 2,500 crowd for once enjoying some sunshine by the seaside.

Earlier, a breezy last wicket stand worth 60 in 48 balls between Cook and Saggers light up the morning session and Kent through to 486 all out, their highest ever score in Scarborough and the biggest against Yorkshire this summer.

For much of the session Kent's middle order batsmen had found fluent scoring difficult as the Tykes' attack, backed by some good fielding, kept things tight.

Neil Dexter was the visitors' first victim of the day, three balls after reaching his 85-ball half-century, he tried to work Tim Bresnan off his hip only to glove a leg-side catch to Gerard Brophy.

Andrew Hall (18) toe-ended an attempted cut to Jacques Rudolph at slip, Ryan McLaren (17) went in similar fashion to Dexter but off the bowling of leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who then accounted for Geraint Jones (43) caught behind when sweeping.

That brought together Cook and Saggers for a belligerent stand that enlivened the half hour up to the lunch interval.

Cook blasted seven fours and a six over extra cover on his way to a 34-ball 50, his first of the season and second for Kent, and Saggers (11) also lifted a six onto the North Marine Road terraces, as they made the most of a tired Yorkshire attack.

Saggers was last out moments before the lunch break, in attempting another six he holed out to deep mid-wicket to give Rashid somewhat flattering figures of five for 112.

Bresnan, who at times bowled some unplayable deliveries, bagged four for 140 while Tykes' keeper Brophy finished the innings with five catches.

Scorecard

Kent first innings

R W T Key c Brophy b Bresnan 21
J L Denly b Rashid 114
M van Jaarsveld c Brophy b Bresnan 5
J C Tredwell lbw b Gough 44
D I Stevens lbw Rashid 87
N J Dexter c Brophy b Bresnan 55
G O Jones c Brophy b Rashid 43
A J Hall c Rudolph b Bresnan 18
M McLaren c Brophy b Rashid 17
S J Cook not out 50
M J Saggers c Bresnan b Rashid 11
Extras21

Total 486 all out after 125.3 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-56, 2-66, 3-149, 4-263, 5-294, 6-352, 7-386, 8-419, 9-426.

Bowling: Gough 28-7-81-1, Gillespie 20-5-55-0, Rashid 23.3-1-112-5, Bresnan 35-7-140-4, McGrath 7-3-10-0, Lawson 7-0-54-0, Khan 4-0-21-0.

Yorkshire first innings

C White c Jones b Cook 49
J J Sayers c Jones b Hall 4
A McGrath not out 107
Younis Khan not out 35
Extras 13

Total 208 for two after 70 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-17, 2-150.

Bowling: McLaren 15-4-40-0, Saggers 15-3-44-0, Hall 7-3-9-1, Cook 10-2-37-1, Stevens 9-2-14-0, Tredwell 13-3-47-0, Dexter 1-0-8-0.

Bonus points: Yorkshire 4pts, Kent 5pts.