Kent grind Lancashire down

Joe Denly's second-innings hundred put Kent in control

Kent closed in on victory after declaring their second innings on 317 for four and setting Lancashire a massive target of 476 runs in the LV County Championship match at Canterbury.

At close the visitors were 161 for four and needing a further 315.

Their reply was given some substance with a fourth-wicket stand of 125 in 32 overs between Mark Chilton, who had 69 not out from 151 balls with 11 boundaries, and Steven Croft, who scored 68 from 91 balls.

Robbie Joseph had earlier taken three wickets in a brilliant four-ball spell without conceding a run, reducing the visitors to 17 for three in the fifth over.

Paul Horton went first to a fine catch at second slip by Martin van Jaarsveld for 14 and Mal Loye's push went into the gloves of Geraint Jones.

Francois Du Plessis was beaten by Joseph's next ball outside the off-stump before being trapped lbw as he hesitated on the drive.

The last session of the day began well for the visitors.

Croft took his total to 45 with a straight six of James Tredwell as Chilton went to 37 turning Joseph to the backward square leg boundary and the 100 of the innings was up in the 23rd over.

Croft's square cut for his six boundary off Joseph brought up his half-century from 66 balls.

With Chilton on 46 and the total 117 for three, rain stopped play in the 28th over.

On resuming Chilton cut Tredwell for four to reach his half-century from 85 balls but lost his partner Croft who was caught behind the stumps pushing forward to Ryan McLaren.

Earlier, resuming on the overnight score of 145 for one, Denly on 53 and Neil Dexter on 69 began cautiously adding just 14 runs in a little over half an hour before Dexter departed on 75 when he put Gary Keedy into the hands of first slip, ending a 152-run partnership.

Denly's ton against Lancashire was the sixth time he has reached three figures in first class cricket

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Denly picked up runs steadily as he cut Keedy for four and then another square cut off Croft took him to 82.

But the finest shot of the morning was his drive to the extra-cover boundary with which took him to 89.

His second championship hundred of the season came from 192 balls when he turned Croft to square leg.

At lunch he was on 118 with 12 fours but without adding to his score he was caught out, cutting to backward point off Croft on the third ball. His innings had spanned four-and-a-quarter hours.

Van Jaarsveld, having batted superbly scoring his runs mainly with quick singles and twos in his stand with Denly was out lbw off the next ball from Croft after bringing up his half-century from 70 balls and Kent were 268 for four.

When Kent declared within an hour after lunch, Darren Stevens was unbeaten on 30 and Jones was 21 not out, with Croft picking up 2-80.