Kent (121-0 and 331 all out) battle for County Championship Division 1 draw against Surrey (673-7 declared) at the Kia Oval

Kent were made to follow-on before producing an unbeaten second-innings century opening stand on day three of their County Championship match against Surrey at the Kia Oval on Tuesday.

Tom Lawes, swinging the ball consistently against the right-handers, sparked a collapse by taking three wickets in 18 balls either side of lunch after Kent - fortified by Daniel Bell-Drummond’s century - had been 216-2.

They were bowled out for 331 with Lawes, a product of Surrey’s academy, finishing with figures of 4-51.

Kent followed-on with a hefty deficit of 342 but openers Ben Compton and Joe Denly dug in to reach 121 at stumps. It was an impressive effort, although they still trail by 221 with plenty of work to do on the final day.

Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning had put on 161 for the third wicket in 54 overs to raise Kent’s hopes of saving the match on what remains a good batting surface.

When he reached 93, Bell-Drummond passed 7,000 first-class runs and a clip through mid-wicket off Gus Atkinson shortly afterwards took him to his 14th first-class century.

He would have been disappointed to have got out in the manner he did, though, slicing a long hop from Will Jacks to backward point for 102, which included 10 fours.

Lawes could have claimed Leaning twice in the same over before eventually dismissing the Kent captain for 75. He failed to hold on to a tough return catch diving low to his left in his follow through before Dan Worrall dropped a straightforward chance at slip three balls later.

But the 19-year-old’s perseverance was rewarded with two wickets in two overs as Leaning played on and Ollie Robinson drove airily and was caught at third slip. From 256-3, Kent proceeded to lose their last seven wickets for 75 in 27 overs.

Geo