Tredwell keeps his cool to end Berg’s stay two short of a century

Kent v Middlesex, LV County Championship, Division 2 day two, Canterbury.
By Mark Pennell
KENT continued to make steady Canterbury Cricket Week progress as Rob Key“s side chipped away to take a further three Middlesex wickets in Thursday“s mid-session to reduce the visitors to 260 for eight at the interval,
In easing conditions Middlesex batted on to reach an overall lead of 274 with two second innings wickets still intact, though luckless Gareth Berg missed out on a maiden first-class hundred after being dismissed just before the break,
Resuming after lunch Berg cantered onto a 59-ball 50 and a career-best but he lost sixth-wicket partner Dawid Malan in the 72nd over when the left-hander leant back to attempt a cut against James Tredwell only to edge to Geraint Jones and end a stand of 92 in 24 overs.
Eight overs later Murali Kartik drove lamely to Amjad Khan at mid-on to give Tredwell a second scalp, which soon became three when, in the off-spinner“s next over, Berg“s push drive flew wide of slip where Justin Kemp pushed out a left hand to take a stunning catch and end Berg“s 101-ball stay for 98 with 13 fours.
Before lunch Azhar Mahmood and Amjad Khan bagged two wickets each in taking their individual match tally“s to five apiece.
Resuming on a scorching hot morning on their overnight score of 50 for one, Middlesex suffered their first casualty of the day to the seventh ball of the session and the first of the day from Mahmood who switched ends to have opener Sam Robson (3) caught behind.
In his next over Mahmood had a concerted appeal for another catch at the wicket turned down against Owais Shah who, two balls later and without addition to his 16, edged to slip where Kemp took the catch to send him packing.
Middlesex re-grouped somewhat with a 50 stand for their fourth wicket through Eoin Morgan (30) and Malan but their resistance ended when Khan plucked out Morgan“s leg stump with a full-length ball.
Five balls later Khan was celebrating again when Ben Scott (0) drove without moving his feet and edged to second slip where Martin van Jaarsveld took a sharp, throat-high catch.