Kent (270) on top in County Championship Division 1 match against Lancashire (145 all out and 2-0)

Kent finished the happier of the two sides on the second day of their LV=Insurance County Championship Division 1 clash with Lancashire after building a substantial first-innings lead on Tuesday.

Lancashire had been honest about their intentions to play on a pitch used just a few days before for England’s one-day international match with India but their decision backfired somewhat when they were bowled out for just 145 in a ferocious morning session, mainly down to the bowling of Matt Henry, that saw nine wickets fall in 28 overs.

Half-centuries from Joe Denly, Jack Leaning and Grant Stewart saw a topsy-turvy day swing in favour of the visitors who were dismissed for 270 before the Red Rose closed on 2-0 at the beginning of their second innings.

The day began with the news Kent captain Sam Billings had tested positive for Covid and was to be replaced by Ollie Robinson behind the stumps, with Leaning taking over as captain.

It set the tone for a bizarre day which saw Washington Sundar play no shot to the second delivery of the morning from Henry, only to see the ball jag back and take out his off-stump.

Two balls later and George Lavelle had departed, edging his second ball from Henry to Zak Crawley without scoring and 112-4 overnight had quickly become 112-6.

The excellent Henry was on a roll and Steven Croft was next to go for 31, caught behind by temporary wicketkeeper Jordan Cox, who had donned the gloves as Kent awaited the arrival of Robinson.

Henry’s fourth quickly followed when Tom Bailey received a brute of a third delivery that uprooted his stumps with Luke Wood handing the New Zealander his five-for when he chipped a catch to Stewart at mid-on for 18.

By then, Henry had taken 5-14 from 29 deliveries and