Four late wickets for Kent turned a good day for them into a great one, as they look to be well on their way to victory against Northamptonshire.

Resuming on 127-3, Michael Powell made a magnificent unbeaten 128 in Kent’s total of 368, leaving them 236 ahead after the first innings.

The visitors would have been happy enough just to picket up a single wicket before the close of play, but some excellent bowling from the Kent attack saw them pick up four wickets in quick fashion, with Matt Coles taking two in his first over, and Charlie Shreck picking up the other two.

The day started in the worst possible fashion for Kent, with both nightwatchman Mark Davies and Brendan Nash out in the first over, Davies run out for two, and Nash bowled for 40 by Jack Brooks, both men out without adding to the overnight score.

That brought Michael Powell, and then Darren Stevens, to the crease, and as both tried to settle the ship after a shaky start, Stevens was out lbw for 8 to the bowling of Chaminda Vaas, leaving Kent looking vulnerable at 158-6.

Geraint Jones joined Powell at the crease, and as Powell looked to take the attack to the home bowlers, Jones scratched around for his first few runs before settling in and looking more comfortable at the crease.

The two got to work and put on the biggest partnership of the match together, reaching lunch at 222-6, with Powell having made 52 and Jones 25, with Kent, at that stage, 90 ahead, and the partnership on 64.

The two continued to make runs in the afternoon session in a terrific session, as Powell brought up his century with four fours in as many balls, and Jones making his fifty a few balls later.

With Jones on 53 and the partnership on 165, Northants finally made their breakthrough not long before the tea break, as David Willey sent the Kent stumper back to the Pavilion with a well-deserved and hard-fought half century to his name.

Powell continued on to tea with James Tredwell for support, but the Kent spinner was out shortly after the break for 10, Jack Brooks picking up his fourth wicket of the match for the home side.

Matt Coles, who made his maiden first class century against Yorkshire last time out, came in next, and made a quickfire aggressive 17, including four fours, before being stumped by Niall O’Brien off the bowling of Northants spinner James Middlebrook.

Charlie Shreck was the last man in for Kent, and could make only one before he became Brooks’ fifth victim, as the Northants seamer finished with figures of 5-98. Michael Powell remained unmoved though, and deserved the applause that greeted him as he returned to the pavilion having made his first century for Kent in just his second match for his new county, his 128 coming from 227 balls.

As Kent went back to the field searching for a Northamptonshire wicket or two, they held a lead of 236, and before long had the bowling breakthrough that they desired too, with Charlie Shreck taking the first wicket, Stephen Peters dismissed for just one, caught by James Tredwell at slip.

That was far from the end of Kent’s successful day though, as Matt Coles was brought on in the sixth over, replacing Mark Davies.

With his second ball, Coles had Rob Newton edging behind and gone for 9, caught well by a diving Geraint Jones, and Northants in trouble at 11-2.

Before too long, their problems were getting even worse, as with the last ball of the over, Coles had Kyle Coetzer lbw for just one, and Northamptonshire reduced to 12-3.

The Kent bowlers were not finished just there though, as Charlie Shreck had Northamptonshire top scorer from the first innings Alex Wakely caught by captain Rob Key for 3, leaving the hosts in a dire position at 25-4.

The home side’s skipper David Sales (31 not out) and Niall O’Brien (5) were able to hold out for the rest of the day as Northamptonshire reached 50-4, but cannot be holding out much hope for their team’s chances in the rest of the match.

Kent, on the other hand, can be very happy with what they’ve achieved in the match so far, and will hope to finish their opponents off as easily and quickly as possible tomorrow.

Northamptonshire side: Peters, Newton, Coetzer, Sales, Wakely, O’Brien, Middlebrook, Vaas, Willey, Daggett, Brooks.

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

Close of play on Day 2: Northants 50-4 (Sales 31*, Coles 2-21, Shreck 2-23) and 132, in reply to Kent 368 (Powell 128*, Jones 53, Brooks 5-98)

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