Kent move on up

Kent moved out of potential relegation trouble and into title contention in the congested LV Division One table, with a 211-run win over Lancashire at Canterbury.

Rob Key’s men are up to fourth, only 13 points behind new leaders Somerset, after bowling their visitors out for 264 by early afternoon on the final day.

Resuming on 161 for four, Lancashire at first made Kent struggle for a wicket as Mark Chilton and Luke Sutton put up stubborn resistance until the 26th over of the day.

Chilton, 69 overnight, completed his first championship century since June last year - pulling a four off Ryan McLaren for his 16th boundary to bring up three figures.

The first wicket finally came Kent's way 20 minutes before lunch - precipitating a collapse of four wickets for 17 runs.

Martin van Jaarsveld picked up three wickets to help dismiss Lancashire just after the lunch break

The slide began with Chilton overbalancing as he swept at off-spinner James Tredwell, to be astutely stumped by Geraint Jones. His 102 spanned four-and-a-half hours and ate up 229 balls.

But captain Stuart Law, still suffering from a sore back, then came out with a runner and gave a return catch to Tredwell without scoring.

Sutton's two-and-a-quarter hour stay ended with an edge to Martin van Jaarsveld at slip.

On the stroke of lunch, van Jaarsveld had Glen Chapple's drive held at mid-on - and at lunch the visitors were in big trouble on 142 for eight.

Twenty runs later, Gary Keedy became van Jaarsveld's third victim - bowled for four.

Dominic Cork struck a straight six and two fours before mistiming a shot off Tredwell to be caught by van Jaarsveld, running round from slip to backward short-leg.

Kent therefore had the match wrapped up soon after lunch - pace bowler Robbie Joseph, Tredwell and van Jaarsveld each finishing with three second-innings wickets.