Kent finally dismiss Durham to claim a slender first innings lead

Kent v Durham LV= County Championship Division 1, Day three in Canterbury
By Mark Pennell
South African Test legend Makhaya Ntini bagged his first five-wicket return for Kent as the hosts chipped away at the visiting tail-end to finally dismiss Durham on a sunny Wednesday morning for 418.
Ntini added two more to his overnight return to post five for 84, but was unable to dislodge young left-hander Ben Stokes, who reached a career-best 161 not out to take his side to within six of equalling Kent“s first innings total.
Ntini, bowling down the slope from the Nackington Road End, enjoyed near identical dismissals to account for Ben Harmison and Mitchell Claydon, both caught on the drive at second slip by Martin van Jaarsveld for eight and three respectively.
He should also have sent Stokes packing with his score on 131 when a toe-ended pull shot flew toward deep mid-wicket, but Joe Denly was unable to hold on to a low chance when running in.
As it was, Stokes batted on to raise the Durham 400 and the first 150 of his fledgling career from 190 balls, but shortly after lost his room-mate and ninth-wicket partner Chris Rushworth to a sliced drive to point off the bowling of Amjad Khan.
Azhar Mahmood wrapped things up by having last man Steve Harmison caught behind by a tumbling Geraint Jones without scoring, leaving Stokes unbeaten after four-and-a-half hours with 19 fours and two sixes to his name.
In the three overs through to lunch, Kent reached 10 without loss.