Essex will need to act quickly to prevent Kent setting a big target in their County Championship match at Southend.

At Southchurch Park Kent put on 253-4 by the end of a rain interrupted day's play yesterday (Thursday).

After only managing to put 107 runs on the board in their first innings on Wednesday, Essex spent the day in the field trying to dismiss Kent.

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Kent opener David Fulton was the early breakthrough Essex had been hoping for not adding to his 70 overnight before being bowled by Justin Bishop. Bishop's bowling also ensured Edward Smith did not break double figures after he was dismissed for seven caught by Darren Robinson.

Ashley Cowan's bowling saw to the wicket of Australian Andrew Symonds for 33.

But only one more wicket fell after lunch, that of Matthew Walker for 18, as Kent set up a lead of 146 runs.

Robert Key brought up his century just before the end of play and Essex will need to do something special today to stop Kent.

On Wednesday bowler Mark Ealham demolished the Essex middle order ending on figures of 5-13.

Among his victims was skipper Ronnie Irani who was out for a duck.

Darren Robinson and Stephen Peters held part of the innings together with a score of 24 and 27 respectively.

But following their departure and that of James Foster for 18 the tail end collapsed in dramatic fashion.

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