KENT face an uphill struggle to stave off defeat despite taking four wickets on the third morning of Kent’s Frizzell Championship clash with Middlesex.

Resuming on their overnight score of 162 without loss, Middlesex lost a wicket to the fourth ball of the day with the run out of Sven Koenig.

Without adding to Thursday’s score of 86, Koenig pushed into the off side against the bowling of Ian Butler, only to be sent back by Ben Hutton. In the confusion Michael Carberry swept in from cover point and hit the striker’s stumps with a direct hit.

Rob Joseph was introduced for the 13th over of the day from the Waterfall Road End and came up trumps with two wickets in five balls spread across two overs.

Nick Compton (16) edged an attempted glance to wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien then the keeper held an excellent diving catch in one glove as Owais Shah (3) attempted to cut.

Ben Hutton put Kent’s joy into perspective however when he reached his second century of the match with a two to third man to get to the landmark from 189 balls.

But with his score on 107 Hutton whipped a turning ball from Min Patel to Carberry at square leg to make it 237 for four.

Paul Weekes and Jamie Dalrymple made it through to lunch without further alarm on 284 for four.

With a lead of 443, Middlesex will want to bat on to reach 500-plus to leave themselves a day and a session in which to bowl Kent out.