Ollie Robinson hit a century and claimed the 100th catch of his career as Kent fought back on day three of their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Northamptonshire at Canterbury.
The wicketkeeper hit 120 from 119 balls, including 16 fours and three sixes as Kent reached 330 for five in reply to Northamptonshire’s 392 all out, a deficit of 62. Jordan Cox was Kent’s next highest scorer with 90 and Joe Denly made 63.
Simon Kerrigan took two for 80 as Northamptonshire took a cluster of late wickets in a dramatic final hour, but barring a sporting declaration tomorrow the match is almost certain to end as a draw.
Earlier Darren Stevens took five for 77, the 31st five-wicket haul of his career, and Matt Quinn claimed four for 86 as Northamptonshire added just 30 runs to their overnight score of 362 for five, following a delayed start.
Saif Zaib fell to the fifth ball of the day, edging Stevens behind for 21 and becoming Robinson’s 100th victim after a brilliant one-handed dive. Tom Taylor was lbw for 25 in Stevens’ next over and Quinn then took two wickets from three balls, getting Nathan Buck caught behind for four and removing Gareth Berg, caught by Jack Leaning at first slip for 10.
Northamptonshire missed out on a fourth bonus point when Stevens had Ben Sanderson caught behind for four and Kent’s openers responded with their first century stand of the season.
Robinson fell lbw to Buck for 120, and Cox fell 10 short of his century when Kerrigan trapped him in front too.
A frantic end to the day’s play saw Rob Keogh claim the wicket of Denly, caught at deep square leg by Zaib and Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw to Kerrigan for 19. Zaib then had Leaning caught behind in the penultimate over for 24.
Northamptonshire 392 (Gay 101, Procter 88)
Kent 330/5 (Kerrigan 2/80, Zaib 1/7)