Ealham and Saggers put Kent back in control

England all-rounder Mark Ealham claimed season's best figures of five for 35 to dismiss Yorkshire for 145 and leave Kent a last day victory target of 230 in their intriguing championship clash with Yorkshire in Canterbury.

The hosts, who trailed by 84 on first innings after being polished off for 317 earlier in the day, rolled the Tykes over inside three and a half hours with Ealham and Martin Saggers ruling the roost.

In humid conditions and under solid cloud cover Ealham's away swingers accounted for Michael Vaughan and Anthony McGrath early on, then Saggers, who trapped Simon Widdup in his opening burst, returned to claim three for one in 10 balls during a crucial second spell from the pavilion end.

He had Darren Lehmann, who was dropped at second slip by Martin McCague when on seven, caught behind for a top score of 42 then, in his next over, removed Gary Fellows and Gavin Hamilton to take his championship tally to 57 for the season. Ealham returned to claim the last three as Yorkshire lost their last six wickets for 43 runs.

Earlier Kent - who need nine points from this game to ensure their Division 1 survival - notched a vital third batting bonus point courtesy of a patient 42 from Matthew Walker and steady contributions from the tail that took them past 300 for only the second time in a championship first innings this year.