Kent press home advantage

Watch free daily video highlights from every LV= County Championship match here on ecb.co.uk this summer

Mark Pettini fought a determined rearguard for Essex as Kent strengthened their grip. His unbeaten 80 spanned 209 balls

Buy this photo

Essex continued to suffer at Canterbury where Kent, having posted an impressive 420, reduced the visitors to 194 for six by stumps on day two.

Batting soon after midday, having mopped up Kent’s last four wickets, Essex made a steady start only to lose Jaik Mickleburgh and Tom Westley in the space of three balls as Kent finally struck with the new ball.

Mickleburgh, on 20, fenced at an Amjad Khan lifter to edge to third slip, while Westley nibbled at a Simon Cook leg-cutter and nicked low to slip without scoring.

Former Kent favourite Matthew Walker received a warm reception when walking out to bat on his old stamping ground, but had reached only 10 when he followed an Azhar Mahmood outswinger to be caught behind by Geraint Jones and make it 68 for three.

Essex dug in either side of tea through Mark Pettini and James Foster, who combined to post 73 for the fourth wicket.

Pettini, who abdicated the Essex captaincy last month, batted through to stumps with a patient 80 while Foster, his successor as skipper, helped their cause with an equally determined 41.

Their stand came to an abrupt end in the first over of a new stint by Azhar, who ran one down the Nackington Road slope to peg back Foster’s off stump as he played back in defence.

The dismissal sparked a collapse as Tim Phillips, pushing forward to leg-spinner Malinga Bandara, sent a bat-pad catch to Joe Denly at short-leg.

That brought to the crease Ravi Bopara, batting at number seven after missing all but six overs of the opening day with a back strain.

Bopara appeared rushed by a quick ball from Amjad that feathered the edge on the way through to Jones to send him packing for two and leave Essex 77 shy of avoiding the follow-on come the close.

The day started with Kent resuming their first innings on 360 for six and making hard work of reaching their fifth batting bonus point.

The hosts lost James Tredwell for the addition of a single when he under-edged to the keeper, then nightwatchman Amjad perished leg before to a David Masters inswinger.

Mahmood and Bandara joined forces to add a vital 52 in 15.5 overs and ease Kent past 400 for the additional point.

Soon after, Azhar miscued a drive to mid-off to go for 28 and Bryce McGain had Simon Cook caught behind to finish with 5-151 on his Essex debut.