Hampshire in the driving seat

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Jimmy Adams took off-spinner James Tredwell for two sixes in an otherwise patient fifty that boosted the visitors

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Hampshire vastly improved their chances of remaining in the LV= County Championship top flight by extending their lead over fellow strugglers Kent to 294 with four wickets intact going into the final day at Canterbury.

Half-centuries from Michael Carberry, Jimmy Adams and Liam Dawson helped the visitors to reach 272 for six when rain stopped play just after 4.20pm. Umpires Rob Bailey and Nigel Cowley inspected just after 5pm and called play off for the day.

Resuming on 16 without loss, Hampshire openers Carberry and Adams showed great resolve throughout much of the opening session to churn out a first-wicket stand worth 92 in 47 overs.

Though it made for dour viewing for a small St Lawrence crowd, the partnership may yet prove crucial in terms of Hampshire's survival in Division One.

Adams lit up proceedings, albeit temporarily, by clubbing a brace of sixes off England off-spinner James Tredwell on his way to a 138-ball fifty, but soon after the left-hander missed a slog-sweep against Malinga Bandara to go leg before.

Australia batsman Philip Hughes did his utmost to accelerate the scoring rate with three boundaries in a cameo 38 until he also fell lbw to a Tredwell arm ball that shot onto the left hander's front pad.

As Kent's weakened attack continued to toil, Dawson also caught the eye in reaching a half-century from 71 balls, half of which came in boundaries.

In search of inspiration Kent took the second new ball and that reaped immediate dividends when, to the next delivery, Dawson nudged an away-swinger to first slip off Kent's golden-arm seamer Darren Stevens.

Sean Ervine feathered the next delivery to slip where Tredwell initially juggled the chance only to catch it at the second attempt.

Young wicketkeeper Michael Bates negotiated the hat-trick ball but, as storm clouds gathered, Stevens had Bates caught behind off an expansive drive.

With a 300-plus lead comfortably within their grasp, Hampshire would now appear firm favourites to secure a last-day victory which would seem likely to condemn Kent to relegation.