Match Report: Lancashire v Kent LV=CC
Friday 26th April 2013
Simon Katich, Karl Brown and Ashwell Prince made half-centuries as Lancashire took control at Emirates Old Trafford on day three.
Lancashire closed on 356 for five in their first innings in reply to Kent's 244, with Kent dropping four catches as first Brown, then Prince and finally Katich piled on the misery.
Katich ended the day 93 not out after sharing an unbeaten sixth-wicket stand of 138 with Steven Croft, who is 47 not out. And in doing so, the former Australian Test batsman passed 20,000 first-class runs.
With national selector Geoff Miller watching on, James Anderson staked a claim to win back his job as England nightwatchman from Steve Finn by playing his part in a 62-run stand with Brown in the morning session.
He brought up their 50 partnership with a straight drive for four off Mark Davies but he eventually fell for 26 when he was trapped lbw by Charlie Shreck just 11 short of his highest first-class score.
His was the only wicket to fall in the morning session and Kent missed three good chances to make early in-roads after lunch.
First Brown escaped when he was put down by Davies at mid-on off England spinner James Tredwell on 48. He later hit Tredwell for six.
In the next over Darren Stevens put down a sharp chance at first slip given by Prince edging Matt Coles on 18. And Coles was the unlucky bowler again with Brown on 61 when Sam Northeast failed to cling on to an edge in the slips.
Brown, who has not scored a first-class century since April 2011, could not fully capitalise, however, as he was bowled after shouldering arms to a delivery from Shreck on 87, bringing to an end his 93-run stand with Prince.
The South African also hit Tredwell for six on the way to his second successive half-century but he too failed to convert when he was given out lbw to Stevens for 58 – although he looked far from happy with the decision.
Katich and Croft upped the run rate in the final session as Lancashire looked to build a big enough lead to force a result during day four.
And just after Katich had reached his fifty off 77 balls, Mike Powell spurned a chance to get rid of him as he failed to hang on to a skied shot off Tredwell.