KENT lost two wickets in the space of three balls in a rain interrupted third morning to their Frizzell Championship match with Lancashire at old Trafford.

Play resumed after almost two days of inactivity with Kent taking up their first innings at 15 without loss in a rain-ruined game.

Play lasted for only 27 minutes before rain and bad light struck again, but the players returned after the loss of four overs for Kent to lose two wickets in the space of an over.

Visiting openers Rob Key and David Fulton both took boundaries in the opening thrusts, Key clipping a Peter Martin half-volley to backward square, while Fulton steered a Glen Chapple leg-cutter to the third man ropes.

But then Chapple got one to lift on Fulton (18) and he turned the ball into the hands if Iain Sutcliffe at forward short leg.

Two balls later Ed Smith followed a Chapple away-swinger and edged into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jamie Haynes to bag his third successive duck as Kent moved on to 59 for two.