Batting fightback may be too little, too late for Lancs

LANCASHIRE'S young batters staged a gutsy fightback on the third day of the Vitality County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford but Kent need only 93 runs with nine wickets in hand to clinch victory on the final morning.

Keaton Jennings' team, following on after making just 92 in their first innings, were bowled out for 332 in their second, leaving the visitors 164 to win their first game of the season.

However, faced with what seemed a tricky chase, Ben Compton and Daniel BellDrummond made light of the loss of Zak Crawley for one and had steered their side to 71 for one at the close.

The morning session began badly for Lancashire when Tom Bruce was bowled for 12 when playing down the wrong line to Wes Agar.

George Balderson and George Bell then put together a 75-run partnership for the sixth wicket that was only ended when Balderson (48) attempted to cut a ball from Jack Leaning and edged a catch to gully.

However, Balderson and Bell's stand had ensured that Lancashire avoided an innings defeat and their calm accumulation was maintained by Bell (65) and Matty Hurst (58) either side of lunch.