Kent benefit from Hampshire's batting breakdown

Min Patel sustained his run of success by bowling Kent into a strong position against Hampshire at Portsmouth. Following his haul of 8 wickets in his county's previous match against Derbyshire the left-arm spinner took another nine as Hampshire's vulnerable batting folded. He took 4-118 in the first innings and 5-46 in the second innings.

The hosts seemed to have started the day at an advantage being 84 ahead at 16-1. However they collapsed quickly against Patel's accurate spin backed up by sharp fielding and catching. Only tow batsmen reached double figures in a score of 136 extras with extras at 15 being the third highest score.

Opener Giles White, who carried his bat for the second time this summer, made 80 n.o. with Dmitri Mascarenhas second highest on 17. White lasted 181 deliveries and hit six boundaries but he was unable to prevent Patel spinning out his colleagues. There was more than enough time for Kent to attain the 205 runs they needed to win and they started cautiously in bright sunshine.

David Fulton and Robert Key scored 67 carefully in 34 overs as Shane Warne was called upon for another long bowling session. Shaun Udal had Fulton leg-before for 42 but Rahul Dravid, hero of the first innings, joined Key in taking the visitors to 117-1 from 55 overs at the end of the day. Kent have the whole of tomorrow to score the 88 runs needed to win.

Warne was unable to repeat Patel's performance but bowled tightly in conceding only 32 runs from 20 overs. Peter Hartley came closest to break the partnership between Key and Dravid but the latter edged the ball through the vacant slips to the boundary.