Kent in control at The Nevill

A five-wicket haul by former Foxes favourite Darren Stevens, coupled with an unbroken second-wicket stand of 144 between Rob Key and Brendan Nash, maintained Kent's grip on their LV= County Championship clash with Leicestershire.

Kent will go into the final day at Tunbridge Wells on 159 for one, a first innings deficit of just 27, and with Key and Nash well placed on 81 and 65 respectively.

The visitors snared Daniel Bell-Drummond (eight) lbw through an Ollie Freckingham off-cutter but Josh Cobb's side were otherwise left cursing their luck after missing two gilt-edged opportunities in the mid-session.

With Nash on 12, Freckingham rearranged the left-hander's stumps only to hear the umpire's call for a no-ball. Then, with the total on 58 and with Key on 31, Joe Burns spurned a regulation chance at first slip off the bowling of Shiv Thakor.

Having posted his 104-ball 50 with nine fours, Key, the former Kent skipper, became only the 17th batsman in Kent's history to pass 15,000 runs for the county when reaching 58.

Nash also posted a half-century with nine fours – the ex-West Indies Test batsman reaching the milestone with a swept four against Jigar Naik and having faced 117 balls.

Kent's two unbeaten batsmen marched off in the best conditions of the match at 6pm, leaving disgruntled supporters to bring into question the county championship playing conditions.

While in Test matches any day's play can be extended for 30 minutes to partially make amends for rain delays, championship rules do not allow for time lost to rain on subsequent days to be made good despite the loss of 169 overs on the opening two days here.

Having suffered a second day wash-out, Leicestershire, resuming on their first day total of 74 for four, were unable to secure a single batting bonus point as they were dismissed for 186 on a pitch freshened by Thursday's showers.

The visitors added only 112 in 40 overs as the Kent seamers enjoyed regular success and none more so than Stevens, who bagged five for 39 – his first five-wicket haul of the summer -and against his former employers.

With the visitors score on 111 it was Stevens, bowling at the Nevill Ground's Railway End, who started Leicestershire's slide with the scalp of Thakor (30), caught low down in the gully by Ben Harmison from a miscued cut.

Matthew Boyce (17) then shouldered arms to a Calum Haggett off-cutter that pegged back off stump and Cobb (two) departed lbw after an ill-advised and ultimately one-handed flail across the line.

Freckingham (15) sparred at a Charlie Shreck lifter only to spoon a catch to Bell-Drummond low at mid-wicket and Naik (23) gave Shreck a haul of three 54 when he feathered one to second slip.

Last man Robbie Williams added a dozen to the total before he too edged to second slip to give Stevens the third five-wicket haul of his 207-match first-class career.

Click here for the ECB scorecard

The Car Parks at The Nevill Ground will re-open on Saturday, following a very pleasant and sunny day in Tunbridge Wells. The Club would like to thank all those who parked outside the ground for their patience today.

Do join us for Day Four of Kent's LV= County Championship fixture against Leicestershire tomorrow (Saturday), with free entry for juniors and £8 entry for adults.

We then have the final fixture of our 101st Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival – a Yorkshire Bank 40 match on Sunday afternoon, with Kent Spitfires taking on Northamptonshire Steelbacks.Click here to save with advance purchase tickets.

We have produced a fantastic, 42-page full colour souvenir brochure to accompany Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival. Pick up your copy from The Nevill for £4.

The brochure will also be available to purchase from the Kent Cricket Shop at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence from next week.

Photo: Sarah Ansell