In the log-jam that is division one of the LV County Championship, seventh-placed Kent need to beat fourth-placed Lancashire at Canterbury to prevent themselves from falling out of the title-winning equation.

Despite a determined 80 not out by Geraint Jones, however, which was the wicketkeeper's highest first-class score this season, Kent largely struggled to 241 for 7 on a slow seamer, leaving Lancashire with the upper hand.

Joe Denly, after seven sweet boundaries, Neil Dexter and James Tredwell all sliced to gully, while Martin van Jaarsveld was beaten by a breakbreak, Darren Stevens drove low to mid-on after a tortuous 23-over stay and Ryan McLaren was yorked.

Kent may have begun this game only 23 points behind Nottinghamshire, the leaders, but two cup final defeats in three weeks is testing their resolve. Rob Key, the captain, could certainly do with a change of luck; he was run out from a deflected Denly drive yesterday.

Key may not have given up all hope of silverware this season, despite the crushing disappointments of losing both the Twenty20 Cup and Friends Provident Trophy finals, but a late run to Championship glory depends on virtually everything going right between now and September 27. And while he could do nothing about his own dismissal, courtesy of the bowler Sajid Mahmood's touch on to the stumps, he will have been frustrated to see Denly, Dexter and Stevens all get out to attacking strokes when well-set.

Jones, well-supported first by McLaren and then by both Tredwell and Amjad Khan, showed what could be achieved with application at the crease by completing a 105-ball half-century. His was a timely innings indeed, and at the close he had struck 10 fours in a stay of three and a quarter hours. Lancashire were well rewarded initially, though, for the discipline of their seam attack - in which Dominic Cork produced an outstanding pre-lunch spell of 9-4-14-2 - as Kent slumped to 105 for 5.

Cork last week reacted angrily to the Lancashire committee's decision not to renew his contract for next season, making his performance yesterday a creditable response.

Steven Croft, meanwhile, illustrated his developing all-round abilities with two prime wickets and some steady medium-pace, while Mahmood ripped out McLaren's off stump and Glen Chapple removed Tredwell with a second new ball taken at 192 for 6.

Unless the pitch quickens up, this looks like being an attritional contest, but Kent will also have to bowl well in Lancashire's first innings if they are to stay in this match.

Scoreboard

Kent
J L Denly c Loye b Cork 37
*R W T Key run out 7
N J Dexter c Loye b Croft 38
M van Jaarsveld lbw b Cork 1
D I Stevens c Keedy b Croft 13
G O Jones not out 80
R McLaren b Mahmood 23
J C Tredwell c Loye b Chapple 13
A Khan not out 16
Extras: (b 5, lb 6, nb 2) 13

Total (7 wkts, 96 overs) 241

M J Saggers and R H Joseph to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-48, 3-52, 4-100, 5-105, 6-157, 7-202.

Bowling: Chapple 18-5-39-1; Mahmood 23-6-72-1; Cork 20-5-34-2; Croft 11-1-30-2; Keedy 20-4-46-0; du Plessis 4-1-9-0.

Lancashire: P J Horton, M J Chilton, M B Loye, *S G Law, F du Plessis, S J Croft, L D Sutton, G Chapple, D G Cork, G Keedy, S I Mahmood.

Umpires: B Dudleston and M J Harris.

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