Kent edge into the lead

Kent 270 for 3 (Key 75, van Jaarsveld 62, Walker 445*, Stevens 70*) lead Warwickshire 252 (Streak 51, Carter 82) by 18 runs with seven wickets in hand
Scorecard

Powerful innings from Robert Key and Martin van Jaarsveld steered Kent into a strong position on the second day at Maidstone. By the close, the home side had edged into an 18-run lead but, with seven wickets in hand, they are well placed to pursue victory against the champions, and league leaders, Warwickshire. Victory would come as some consolation after a day in which the ECB upheld its decision to dock Kent eight points for providing a poor pitch against Gloucestershire.

The Kent chief executive, Paul Millman, spoke of his dismay with the decision. "We are most unhappy," he said, before explaining that the flurry of wickets was mainly the result of poor shot selection, and he had even provided video evidence to back this up. Nevertheless, the decision stands. There were few poor shots on display for either side on a docile pitch, with only the occasional ball keeping low to test the batsmen. Heath Streak and Neil Carter continued to rescue Warwickshire in the morning. Streak made 51, while Carter brought up a quickfire 82 from just 96 balls, his onslaught including 12 fours and a six off Justin Kemp. Such fireworks were enough to lift Warwickshire from 116 for 8 to 252, but the show was eventually ended by Kent who trapped Carter lbw.

Streak's knock was more measured - his 51 came from 10 balls - but no less important after Warwickshire struggled early in their innings. Streak also fell lbw, one of Simon Cook's four wickets. Dougie Brown had Kent in trouble aerly, too, as he tsruck to remove David Fulton for just 6. But Key and van Jaarsveld enjoyed a stand of 138 for the second wicket to give Kent a strong platform. They duly progressed, with Key on course for his fourth century of the season.

It was left to Ian Bell to remove his Test rival with one which nipped back. Key made 75. Van Jaarsveld went after the medium pacers, an attack shorn of the services of Streak who left the field with a groin strain after just 4.1 overs. He enjoyed success against them for a while, but eventually succumbed to Bell on 62, edging to slip where Jonathan Trott dived to his right to hold a difficult catch.

The new pair at the crease were Darren Stevens and Michael Walker and they did well, sharing an unbeaten stand of 116 by the close. Warwickshire's bowlers have much work to do.