Kent v Lancashire

INJURY-HIT Kent suffered a poor second morning to their LV Championship match with Lancashire at St Lawrence.

The hosts lost their last three wickets in adding only seven to their overnight total to be dismissed for 327.

The visitors then batted 27 overs through to lunch in reaching 64 without loss in reply, with Mark Chilton (30) and Paul Horton (31) in little or no trouble against this weakened Kent attack.

With Joe Denly off the field through sickness, Matt Walker under the weather with a virus, things worsened for Kent skipper Rob Key with the news that his all-rounder Ryan McLaren is unable to bowl with an injured thumb.

That left Martin Saggers, Lasith Malinga, James Tredwell and Simon Cook to bowl, but none of the four posed a serious threat as Lancashire cantered along at three an over.

Earlier, Kent suffered three quick losses to miss out on a fourth batting bonus point by 23 runs.

Matt Walker took his overnight score on to 142 before edging to Stuart Law at second slip off Glen Chapple, then Simon Cook (38) and Martin Saggers (0) quickly followed against the bowling of Oliver Newby who closed with three for 65.

Chapple, with three for 63, also proved a handful while Muthiah Muralitharan took two for 81 despite an arm injury.