County Championship: Hampshire pile pressure on Kent

Kent’s Division One status was dangling by a thread after a dismal second day against Hampshire in the County Championship at Canterbury.

The hosts slumped to 64 for five for in reply to Hampshire’s first innings total of 403, Kyle Abbott claiming three wickets for 23 runs for the visitors.

What had looked like an even contest at the end of day one tilted drastically in Hampshire’s favour during the morning session.

Tom Prest hit a majestic 102 and Brad Wheal chipped in with his highest first-class score of 61 before Hampshire were finally dismissed.

Kent could be relegated this week if they lose and results elsewhere go against them and they still trailed by 339 at stumps.

The visitors began day two on 213-7 and looked comfortable for the first hour until Joey Evison removed Abbott for 26, thanks to a brilliant slip catch by Jack Leaning.

Prest, who took 21 from one Matt Parkinson over, reached his 100 from exactly 100 balls but fell to a juggling catch from Jas Singh on the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Even the last-wicket pair put on 71 as Wheal twisted the knife with an aggressive cameo that included a pulled six off Singh and it was 377-9 when rain ushered in the lunch break.

After it, Wheal took Hampshire past 400 before he was bowled playing on.

Kent’s response was all too predictable as Muhammad Abbas, removed Tawanda Muyeye, who was perhaps unfortunate to be given caught behind for five.

Abbott then took three wickets in five balls – Daniel Bell-Drummond was caught by Fletcha Middleton, a ball after he had been dropped by Prest, before Jack Leaning and Joe Denly followed for second-ball ducks.

Evison made 21 before Wheal had him caught behind but the hosts were spared further punishment when play was suspended due to a combination of bad light and increasingly heavy rain.