Kent (74-4) struggle in reply to Essex's big total (573 all out) in County Championship Division 1

Kent are fighting to salvage something from their LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 game against Essex at Canterbury after day two on Tuesday.

Feroze Khushi’s maiden first-class century (164) came from 228 balls and included two sixes and 18 fours, while Matt Critchley made 90 and Ben Allison 53 to get the visitors to 573 all out.

Sam Cook and Jamie Porter then claimed 2-14 and 2-30 respectively, against a Kent side already hindered by injuries to captain Sam Billings and Matt Milnes.

Jack Leaning and Jordan Cox were the not out batsmen on 19 and one when the umpires brought the players off for bad light with six overs remaining.

Khushi hit the first ball of the day, from Grant Stewart, through midwicket for four to bring up his half-century, before a soporific hour ensued.

The contest spluttered to life when Daniel Bell-Drummond, bowling because Milnes was struggling with a back issue, had Critchley caught behind by Ollie Robinson, who was keeping wicket because Billings suffered a groin injury on day one.

The possibly under-used Bell-Drummond then removed Adam Rossington, caught at cow corner by substitute fielder Hamid Qadri for six and Harry Podmore had Shane Snater caught by Matt Quinn for 11, but the torpor returned as Essex advanced to 408-7 at lunch.

Khushi reached three figures 40 minutes after the restart, cutting Joe Denly to backward point and leaping in the air as he completed the single, before he removed his helmet and kissed the St Lawrence wicket.

As Essex went through the gears, Allison reached 50 with a straight driven four off the same bowler but, after passing his previous highest first-class score of 52, Denly took his middle stump.

Khushi took Essex past 500 by hitting Denly back over