Kent response stutters against Northants as Andrew Hall strikes

County Championship Division Two, Canterbury
Close, day two: Northants 418 v Kent 123-3
Kent 1pt, Northants 3pts
Match scorecard

Kent made a faltering reply to to Northants' first-innings on the second day as they closed 295 runs behind.

David Sales (140) and James Middlebrook (73) had earlier made a fifth-wicket stand of 205 for the visitors.

David Willey added a career-best 64 from 85 balls before his side were bowled out for 418.

Kent's top order struggled and Andrew Hall (2-19) took the wickets of Rob Key (48) Ben Harmison (32) in consecutive overs as the hosts finished on 123-3.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Kent's Ben Croucher:

"Another day for Northants to savour as they batted Kent out of a positive result on another day for measured, mindful batting.

"More aggressive than yesterday, the two huge partnerships frustrated Kent's bowlers, whose visible display of anger and anguish demonstrating how the visitors got under their skin.

"Rob Key put his recent first-innings demons behind him with the perfect controlled approach, making his wild waft of a dismissal to former team-mate Andrew Hall all the more perplexing.

"A couple of early wickets for Northants in the morning and they'll sniff a victory. For Kent, it's another gritty defence needed."