KENT are on the verge of winning second place in the Frizzell championship after reducing Middlesex to 213 for seven after 57 overs of their second innings.

The visitors are still 87 behind after Kent posted an impressive first innings lead of 300. The Kent spinners bagged six wickets either side of tea.

Kent were made to wait 22 overs for a breakthrough before Simon Cusden struck with his fifth ball of the day to have Sven Koenig caught behind off an edged drive.

The slow bowlers then came to the fore, with Min Patel claiming two and Alex Loudon one.

Patel had Ben Hutton (32) caught at silly point and Owais Shah (14) caught at point after attempting to cut.

Alex Loudon then gained some extra bounce to brush the outside edge of Paul Weekes’ bat to give David Fulton a simple slip catch and make it 155 for four.

After tea Loudon bagged three more, having Jamie Dalrymple (20) stumped leg-side by Niall O’Brien and then Ben Scott (0) was trapped leg before next ball to Loudon’s doosra.

Kent target Simon Cook reached 15 before he drove outside one from Loudon that turned through the gate to hit mid-off.

Earlier, Matthew Walker posted the third century of the innings from 173 balls and with 10 fours and a six before becoming one of the late victims falling to spin.

Attempting to sweep Dalrymple, Walker dragged his back foot to give Ben Scott a sharp stumping opportunity.

The Middlesex spinners Paul Weekes (2-91) and Dalrymple (4-66) ran through the tail thereafter with Ben Hutton taking three catches at short leg.