Kent took three wickets in the opening session on day two of their LV= County Championship clash with Northamptonshire.

But it is the visitors who remain in the box seat in this 164th Cricket Week fixture.

At lunch Northamptonshire had reached 263-5 to lead their second-division hosts by 96 runs from the first innings.

Resuming on their opening day total of 172-2 for an overall lead of five, Northamptonshire lost their third wicket to only the fifth ball of the day when Rob Keogh drove back a return catch to Matt Coles.

The bowler thrust out his right hand in the follow-through to cling on to an instinctive reflex chance that sent Keogh packing without addition to his overnight score of 11.

Moments later Ben Duckett, the diminutive Northamptonshire left-hander, celebrated his fourth first-class century of the summer, his third in championship cricket, from 115 balls and with 13 fours.

However, Duckett was soon apologising when his suicidal call for a single to extra cover led to Richard Levi’s run out for 25.

Darren Stevens’ direct hit with a sidearm throw demolished the middle stump to complete the dismissal.         

Duckett followed just before the interval when he went back to cut, only to be snared lbw by a quicker arm-ball by James Tredwell.

Duckett’s 145 came from 199 balls and included 16 fours.

As the players went into the pavilion, Kent opening batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond and wicketkeeper Sam Billings were awarded their county caps by Kent president Lady Kingsdown.

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