Jack Leaning celebrated his second century of the season to boost Kent’s hopes of avoiding relegation from LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 on Wednesday.
Stand-in captain Leaning struck 112 as the pitch became more conducive to batting as Kent totted up 269 second-innings runs before they took four second-innings Hampshire wickets.
Joe Weatherley was exceptional for his unbeaten 54 but Hampshire lost openers Felix Organ and Ian Holland plus night-watchmen Keith Barker and Nick Gubbins while knocking 105 off the required total in 35 overs - with 273 runs still required for victory on day three.
Having taken three evening wickets on day one - albeit two were night-watchmen - Hampshire were optimistic they could blast through the remaining seven Kent batters, have a modest target to chase and re-ignite their Division 1 title tilt.