Tomlinson runs through Kent’s tail as Hampshire build a 38-run lead

Kent v Hampshire LV= County Championship, day two in Canterbury.

By Mark Pennell

Kent conceded a slender first innings deficit of 22 and then saw Hampshire reach the mid-point of this first division survival battle on 16 without loss for an overall lead of 38 on a second day cut short by rain and bad light.
Heavy overnight rain followed by early morning showers put paid to the entire morning sessions but match umpires Nigel Cowley and Rob Bailey finally decreed that play could get underway at 1.35pm with the loss of 30 overs.
Resuming on their overnight score of 15 for one, Kent lost three wickets in the mid-session but capitulated after tea to be dismissed for 182 with seamer James Tomlinson the pick of the Hampshire attack with four for 59. Veteran skipper Dominic Cork took three for 44 and Sean Ervine chipped in with two for 35.
Despite gloomy overhead conditions, Kent made a bright start in adding 36 to their overnight score inside 10 overs before suffering their first casualty.
Rob Key (19) appeared to play across the line of a Cork off-cutter to go leg before to make it 41 for two and end Key“s 82-ball vigil without a boundary.
Joe Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld doubled the home total before top-scorer Denly, on 42, pushed defensively inside the line of an Ervine leg-cutter that clattered into middle and off stumps.
Geraint Jones was next to go, leg before when driving at left-arm spinner Danny Briggs for five though he walked off inspecting ruefully the inside edge of his bat.
Kent“s demise gathered momentum after tea as the first division strugglers lost their last six wickets for 47 runs.
All looked set fair until Darren Stevens (13) aimed an airy drive at Tomlinson to be caught behind by Michael Bates.
Alex Blake was beaten for pace and went leg before and though James Tredwell glanced the hat-trick ball for a boundary to fine leg, Kent were already on the slide.
In the next over Martin van Jaarsveld (41) had his off stump plucked out by Cork as Kent conspired to lose three wickets for five runs in the space of four balls.
Malinga Bandara and Matt Coles both attempted to hit out lustily, only to fall to Tomlinson then, after a last wicket stand of 22, James Tredwell holed out to deep mid-wicket to give Ervine a cheap wicket.
Despite fading light, Hampshire“s openers Michael Carberry and Jimmy Adams made it through to stumps, the latter surviving the only concerted appeal by Bandara for a potential lbw decision.
Photo: Sarah Ansell