Teenagers Justin Bishop and Ashley Cowan provided Essex with their brightest moments against Kent at Southchurch Park on the second day of their Championship battle.

Each picked up a couple of wickets either side of a lengthy stoppage for rain, but they could not prevent the visitors advancing their first innings to 253-4 to take a lead of 146 into the third day.

In all a total of 55 overs were lost to the weather and, despite the efforts of the pace pair, it is likely that only lengthy further interruptions will prevent the County suffering a fifth Championship defeat of the summer.

More information about Essex County Cricket Club's 2001 season including a link to the official ECCC site with live scorecard But Essex will take comfort from the performance of Bishop, whose figures of 2-84 from 28 overs did not really do him justice.

The 19-year-old left-armer beat the bat on three or four occasions without reward and, on another day, would have had more to celebrate.

As it was, his two successes came during his first three overs of the day.

His first ball of the morning knocked back David Fulton's middle stump, the opener making 70, and with only eight runs added to the overnight total of 116 without loss Ed Smith was also walking back to the pavilion.

On that occasion Bishop owed a big debt of gratitude to Darren Robinson who pulled off a magnificent diving catch in the gully.

Robert Key, however, was to resist all attempts to remove him as he advanced from 40 to reach the close unbeaten with 100.

He seldom unleashed a shot in anger, a fact underlined by just five boundaries, but no-one could fault his determination or concentration.

Key has so far held firm for nearly six hours while completing his third first class century of the summer. In doing so he lost two more partners on the way.

Cowan claimed his first success when he had Andrew Symonds caught behind by James Foster for 33, and then he tempted Matthew Walker into a miscued hook which ended up in the hands of Andrew McGarry.

Cowan and Bishop have so far sent down 54 of the 91 overs - their burden made greater because Ronnie Irani is unable to form part of the bowling attack due to a badly bruised side.

Double joy - Ashley Cowan (left) claimed the scalps of Symonds and Walker

Pictures: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.