A quite remarkable 194 run partnership between Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones helped Kent to a respectable total at Chelmsford on Friday.

The pair came together with their side deep in trouble at 9 for 5 on Thursday, and had to be patient whilst the rain fell for almost two days before guiding the side to 225 all out with the home side finishing day three on 94 for 2.

Stevens went on to strike 119 off 170 balls with Jones falling just 12 runs short of his century off the same amount of balls as the pair dug their side out a massive hole whilst posting the huge partnership.

In the end, the pair hit 207 of the sides’ 225 runs, with extras scoring 7, Brendan Nash scored 6, Ben Harmison and Mark Davies 2 apiece, Rob Key 1, whilst Scott Newman, Mike Powell, James Tredwell, Charlie Shreck and Ivan Thomas all failed to trouble the scorers.

When Stevens was finally out at 203 for 6, Kent went on to lose their last five wickets for 22 runs with Jones running out of partners and he was the last to go, falling to former Kent seamer David Masters, whilst Charl Willoughby went on to finish with figures of 5 for 70.

Things started so well for Kent when it was their turn to bowl with Mark Davies trapping England opener Alastair Cook lbw for one and the very next ball he had Tom Westley caught behind by Geraint Jones.

At that point Essex were deep in trouble at 3 for 2 and they looked to be finding batting difficult, but an unbeaten  partnership of 91 helped the home side through to the close without further alarm.

Mark Pettini will resume in the morning on 61 not out with Billy Godleman unbeaten on 27 at the other end.

Meanwhile, Ravi Bopara was sent for a scan on his thigh this evening after pulling up after bowling just the one over in the morning session with Alviro Peterson unable to bat so far after twisting his ankle.

With Saturday being the last day of this County Championship fixture, a draw looks to be on the cards as Kent look to preserve their unbeaten start to the season.

Essex side: Godleman, Cook, Petersen, Bopara, Westley, Pettini, Smith, Foster, Masters, Mills, Willoughby.

Kent side: Newman, Key, Harmison, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Tredwell, Davies, Thomas, Shreck.

Close of play on Day 3: Kent 225 all out (Stevens 119, Jones 88) Essex 94 for 2.

Pictures by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures, visit www.sarahcanterbury.com