Kent opener Sam Northeast said that the side’s thoughts were still to “saving the game” with Essex, despite the weather washing out most of day three at Canterbury.

Speaking after making an unbeaten 70 in Kent’s 113-4 before weather ended proceedings, Northeast admitted batting conditions had been slightly easier than the day before, when Essex bowled Kent out for 107 before making them follow on.

“It was a bit easier today than it was yesterday”, he said. “It was still nipping around a bit, so if we do get on tomorrow it will still be pretty tough work I’d imagine.”

“We’re quite a long way behind. I think all our thoughts are to saving the game. Obviously the rain has taken a lot of time out of the game so it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow with the weather and if we get on it will still be a case of trying to save it.”

Northeast admitted that the team’s overall performance so far hadn’t been up to scratch, but was still confident they could rescue a draw on the final day.

He said: “I think they probably actually got a few too many, and then we didn’t bat as well as we could but it was tough conditions and it eased off a little bit today in terms of the movement that happened. It was a good fightback, and hopefully more tomorrow.”

Having notched up his third fifty of the campaign, but yet to reach three figures, Northeast is slowly coming into form as the season comes towards the end. He also put pen to paper on a new two year deal with the club last week, and is keen to push on with his future now secured. “I’d be looking for a hundred [before the season finishes]”, he said. “I’ve been near a few times this year but just to get over the line would be quite nice.

“Hopefully I can take some form from this year into next year and have two really good years here.”

Having had to open in tough conditions in both innings of this match, Northeast admitted that it wasn’t easy, but was all to be expected in the life of an opening batsman, saying: “I’ll still argue the fact that it’s still the toughest position to bat, up at the top, and Stevo [Darren Stevens] gets all the glory! It’s one of those things as an opening bat sometimes – you’ve got to live through a few tough opening spells, but that’s what we’re there for.”

With their final two Championship games against Northamptonshire and Lancashire – the top two in the Second Division – Kent’s end to the campaign will be a tough one. “It will be a good test of where we’re at”, Northeast said. “I think it will probably show us up if we’re not quite on it but at the same time, it’s a great opportunity for us to see where we’re at.”

Picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com