Kent (345-4) lead Lancashire (327 all out) by 18 runs in County Championship Division 1 in Canterbury

An unbeaten century by Joe Denly helped Kent establish a lead on day two of their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Lancashire at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Replying to the visitors’ 327, Ben Compton, who was nominated to drop out had Zak Crawley been fit after England duty, anchored Kent’s innings with a typically obdurate 95.

Denly then played a more flamboyant 105 not out from 149 balls with 11 fours and a six to record his first red-ball century of the season as Kent closed with two potentially crucial batting points and a lead of 18 runs on 345-4.

The hosts began the match a single point ahead of Middlesex in the Division 1 table and will be relegated if the sides finish level on points, having collected fewer wins.

It was a difficult day for Lancashire, with Jack Blatherwick (1-62) being removed from the attack after bowling two beamers in an over.

Supporters with memories of the bygone age when England players were bundled into taxis as soon as their game was over and dispatched to the furthest flung corners of the county circuit were disappointed to learn neither Crawley nor Tom Hartley would be available until day three following Tuesday’s wash-out in Bristol.

Compton opened alongside Tawanda Muyeye but, after enduring a torrid first hour as the ball zipped around under grey St Lawrence skies, the latter was just starting to look comfortable when he got out for 46.

George Balderson (1-33) replaced Tom Bailey (0-60) at the Pavilion End, his fourth delivery found Muyeye’s edge and Keaton Jennings took a brilliant one-handed catch low to his right.

Jennings then took a far easier catch to remove Daniel Bell-Drummond for three after Jack Morley (2-94) found the shoulder of his bat, leaving Kent 91-2 at