Kent race to victory over Lancashire

Kent upset the Division One form book and moved out of the CricInfo Championship relegation zone after securing a resounding 268-run win over Lancashire in Canterbury.

Despite winning with a day and a quarter to spare, Kent were docked a point for slow over rates that left them four overs short of their 16 an hour target come the end of the game.

Although delighted with the win, Kent skipper Matthew Fleming was clearly upset at losing a point to a ruling that he described as 'farcical'.

"It's very disappointing and shows that the laws, despite being drawn up with the best of intentions, can still sometimes be an ass," said Fleming.

"There is no consideration for us having to bowl for two days in high temperatures, with a seam bowler light through injury, or the fact that one of their batsmen was absent injured."

Kent are already considering an appeal in a bid to get back their 18th point from securing only their second win of the Championship season.

The victory came at a frenetic pace after Lancashire, chasing an unlikely victory target of 375, were skittled out for 106 in just 143 minutes.

Under heavy cloud cover, all Kent's seamers made the ball swing impressively and, backed by some excellent close catching, were able to dismiss the visitors in just 34 overs.

Former Somerset seamer Ben Trott was the main danger, claiming five for 43, while Mark Ealham bagged three for 20 to finish with nine in the match.

Only Andrew Flintoff (23), Neil Fairbrother (33) and Muthiah Muralitharan - playing his final game before international duty with Sri Lanka - reached double figures as the Red Rose county lost their last six wickets for 34 runs in just ten overs.