KENT rammed home their superiority against Division 1 strugglers Northamptonshire by declining to enforce the follow-on and batting again at St Lawrence.

By stumps on day two Kent had reached 200 for three, an overall lead of 463 in the game with Ed Smith leading from the front with an unbeaten 79.

Having dismissed the visitors for 151 inside 45 overs the hosts went out to bat again in sunny conditions to pile the pressure on the basement side.

They sent back Rob Key (17) and David Fulton (39) before Smith and Alex Loudon teamed up to add a diligent 89 in 31 overs.

Loudon had just celebrated his second half-century of the game, this one from 86 balls, when he played over a full-length ball from Jeff Cook to go for 51.

Smith, who joined Key, Fulton and Walker on 1,000th first-class runs for the summer during his innings, saw it through to the close with Walker (4) to leave Kent in great shape at the mid-point of the match.

Earlier, in responding to Kent’s first innings 414 for eight declared, Northamptonshire struggled in the face of a controlled bowling performance by Kent’s young and injury-hit attack to concede a first innings lead of 263.

With Matt Dennington (broken hand) and Alex Loudon (stomach bug) unable to bowl, Kent elected against enforcing the follow-on and went out to bat again.

Kent had skittled out the visitors inside 45 overs with Amjad Khan leading the rout with four for 47.

After starting with a brace of maidens, Khan plucked out Jim Cook's off stump to make them six for one after six overs.

Simon Cusden then knocked back Tim Roberts’ off stump with one that nipped back down the Nackington Road slope to squeeze through the gate.

Tom Huggins had scored just one when he sliced a drive to substitute fielder Joe Denly at point to make it 27 for three.

Usman Afzaal should have gone for nine when he offered a chance to Denly at point off the bowling of Cusden, but this time the fielder downed a dipping chance.

Matthew Walker then got in on the act, trapping David Sales leg before for three with a shooting off-cutter then, with the last ball before lunch, Khan dipped one into Gerard Brophy (10) to leave the visitors five down by the interval.

After the break Khan beat Graeme Swann (16) for pace, bowled Afzaal (34) with a leg-cutter then Joseph got one to lift on Johann Louw that brushed the gloves and flew to David Fulton at slip.

Cusden then returned to bowl Ben Phillips via an under edge as the former Kent batsman attempted a back-foot defensive and Min Patel finished it by having Steffan Jones caught at deep cover by Denly.