Somerset v Kent, Day 2

David Masters continued his impressive graduation into first class cricket with 5-55 as Kent restricted Somerset to a first innings lead of 34 at Bath.

The 22-year-old seamer, who began the summer without a first team appearance, took his wicket tally for the season to 25 with another impressive display.

But half centuries from Jamie Cox, Piran Holloway and Keith Parsons carried Somerset to 295 all out. And their slender advantage was made to look more meaningful when Andy Caddick struck to leave Kent 4-1 in their second innings.

Resuming on 47-0, the home side were always optimistic of building a lead. But the Festival pitch never encouraged fluent scoring and the batsmen had to graft for their runs.

With only three added, Mark Ealham produced a ball that lifted and left Marcus Trescothick, flicking a glove on the way through to Paul Nixon.

Cox and Holloway then added 49 for the second wicket before the Australian played back to a ball from left-arm spinner Min Patel that hurried onto him and departed lbw for 52.

Holloway was never in top form, but battled tenaciously for his 50. Then Masters struck twice in the space of an over, sending back the little left-hander to a David Fulton slip catch and having Rob Turner picked up by Robert Key at square leg for a duck.

Parsons, determined to re-establish himself as a front-line batsman after being treated more as an all-rounder, survived a difficult chance on 28 as Rahul Dravid failed to hold a stinging drive off Patel at mid-on.

He went on to make 62 in two hours and 46 minutes, hitting 11 fours, before becoming only the second ever first class victim for the occasional medium pace of Matthew Walker.

At that point first innings lead was still in the balance. But Graham Rose used all his experience to play himself in and contribute a valuable 45 not out, while the other later batsmen perished through lack of patience.

Masters took three of the last four wickets to fall, maintaining a good line and length from the Pavilion End. But when last man Jamie Grove edged to Nixon Kent's openers were left with a tricky three overs before the close.

Caddick immediately looked as menacing as he had done when taking 6-57 in the first innings, finding a helpful ridge in the pitch that made the ball rise steeply.

The second delivery of the final over caught the shoulder of Fulton's bat and provided Holloway with a catch at gully.

Somerset's players left the field sensing that the tone had been set for the third day in which they expect Caddick to prove the match-winner.

Parsons summed up the optimism, saying: "We felt we were pretty sloppy in the opening two sessions of the match and should have bowled Kent out for a lot less in the first innings.

"Caddy has got more out of the pitch than any other bowler and if we can dismiss Dravid early we shall fancy our chances strongly."