Kent (244 & 120-5) trail Surrey (543-7) by 179 runs after day three of County Championship game at Canterbury

Defeat on the final day looks inevitable for Kent after champions Surrey pressed home their advantage on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash at Canterbury.

Kent closed the day on 120-5 in their second innings, still trailing by 179 runs.

Dan Worrall took 3-18 as the champions rattled through Kent’s top order after declaring on 543-7.

Matt Parkinson took 5-177 for Kent as Surrey hit out during a punishing afternoon session for the home side, to take a first-innings lead of 299. Dom Sibley made 150, Dan Lawrence hit 112 and Jamie Smith weighed in with a quickfire 58.

Ben Compton and Joey Evison were not out on eight and seven respectively at stumps, but with the forecast for clear skies tomorrow Kent will need something close to a miracle to escape with a draw on day four.

Sibley and Lawrence both reached their centuries by the time Kent opted not to take the new ball after 80 overs and Parkinson vindicated the decision when he bowled Lawrence with the very next delivery.

The afternoon session was significantly livelier. Sibley had just reached 150 when he was given out caught and bowled to Parkinson.

Ben Foakes then made a rapid 24 from 20 balls but he was caught behind slashing at George Garrett.

Smith was on 37 when he hooked Jas Singh to square leg, but sub fielder Fred Klaassen couldn’t haul in the catch.

Smith responded with a six off Parkinson that flew on to the upper balcony of the Cowdrey stand and he reached his half-century when he swept the next delivery for a single. But he then fell in Parkinson’s next over, caught at long-on by Arafat Bhuiyan.

Parkinson got his fourth wicket when Ryan Patel drove him to Garrett at mid-wicket for 30 before Jordan Clark hit him to Joe Denly at the mid-wicket