ROB KEY’S fifth century of the summer saved Kentish face and avoided an innings defeat to Surrey after Kent were made to follow-on 240 in arrears at The Oval.

Having top-scored with 86 in Kent’s hugely disappointing first innings total of 239 all out, Key went out to bat a further 335 minutes second time around to take his side into stumps on 254 for four.

He will go into the final day unbeaten on 134 having given league leaders Kent a slender overall lead of 14 with six, second-innings wickets intact.

Key, who now has 828-runs for the first-class season, featured in an excellent fourth wicket stand worth 126 in 46 overs with Michael Carberry (61).

The former Surrey left-hander reached his 50 from 148 balls, but blotted his copybook by getting out to the occasional off-spinners of Jimmy Ormond five overs from the close.

Following-on, the visitors lost David Fulton (13), Ed Smith (23) and Matt Walker (0) to swinging deliveries before Key and Carberry teamed up to take the game into its final day and make the hosts bat again.

Earlier in the day, Kent lost their last five wickets inside nine overs and 65 action-packed minutes of the first session.

With early cloud cover to assist them, Surrey’s seam attack enjoyed plenty of swing through the air as Azhar Mahmood bagged four for 56, whilst Martin Bicknell and Rikki Clarke claimed three apiece.

The hosts were also indebted to their wicketkeeper captain Jon Batty, who equalled Steve Marsh’s world record of eight catches in a championship innings to go with his 129 on day one.

Marsh set the record against Middlesex at Lord’s in 1991.