KENT reject Richard Clinton came back to haunt his former county by helping Surrey into a commanding position by tea on day two of this Frizzell Championship top-of-the-table clash.

After 40 overs and well into Thursday’s final session Surrey had reached an impressive 160 without loss having finally bowled out Kent for a fighting 226.

Clinton was dropped on naught and 14 off the bowling of Ian Butler and Min Patel respectively and took advantage by scoring an unbeaten 50 from 98 balls, for his part in an opening stand with Scott Newman (105).

Slip fielders Matthew Walker and Alex Loudon were the guilty parties as Clinton was twice allowed off the hook.

Newman was the far more impressive of the two batsmen, reaching his 50 from 71 balls and his century in 150 minutes with 17 fours and a six.

Earlier, Kent were dismissed for a battling 226 after losing their last two wickets to the first seven balls after lunch.

A stubborn record ninth-wicket stand of 105 in 34 overs between Ian Butler and Rob Ferley (29) came to an end when Ferley fended a James Ormond lifter to Ali Brown at slip.

Butler followed in the next over, going for a career-best 68 after edging to wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty to give Azhar Mahmood five for 54.