Lancashire on the brink
Amjad Khan picked up three wickets in Lancashire's second innings at Liverpool
Lancashire are in grave danger of losing their vital LV County Championship Division One clash with Kent at Liverpool despite having a much better second day.
The relegation-threatened Red Rose county were bowled out for just 107 in their first innings yesterday but took five wickets in day two’s morning session to reduce Kent to 233 all out in reply.
Lancashire claimed five wickets for 86 runs but Kent’s South African all-rounder Justin Kemp hit an unbeaten 56 from 82 balls.
Oliver Newby completed figures of 4-79 while Glen Chapple finished with 3-61, Steven Croft 2-34 and Tom Smith 1-56.
Kent then kept their noses firmly in front by the end of day two by reducing the hosts to 257 for seven, a lead of 131.
Lancashire captain Stuart Law anchored a better Red Rose batting show with a determined 79 while 20 year-old Karl Brown, batting for only the second time in Championship cricket, hit an impressive 40.
Amjad Khan led the way for Kent with the ball to claim the wickets of Paul Horton, Brown and Luke Sutton. The Danish-born paceman finished with figures of 3-53 from 12 overs.
There were also wickets for spin duo James Tredwell and Martin van Jaarsveld.
Although there is still some help for the bowlers the conditions were easier to bat in on the second day.
Kemp batted intelligently for the visitors this morning to hold the fort whilst wickets were falling around him.
The 30 year-old powerhouse is usually known for his brutish strength and smashing the ball to all parts but was much more circumspect in this knock and only hit six boundaries.
In response Law was just as patient in his 127-ball innings, which included nine fours, but undid the good work when he steered Ryan McLaren straight to Khan on the third-man boundary.
That left Lancashire in peril at 218 for seven before Chapple set about a late assault to give his side some hope going into the third day.
He walloped Khan for three consecutive fours in one over and finished on 28 not out in the midst of an eighth-wicket stand of 39 with Smith.
