Somerset (374-7) lead Kent (284) by 90 runs in County Championship Division 1 at Canterbury

Kent and Somerset look to be heading for a draw in Division 1 of the Vitality County Championship at Canterbury after the visitors reached 374-7 at stumps on day three on Sunday.

Tom Lammonby hit 90 and Matt Renshaw 66 as the visitors survived an early-evening wobble to overhaul Kent’s first-innings score of 284.

Kent debutants George Garett and Matt Parkinson took 2-61 and 2-116 respectively, but a stand of 101 between Kasey Aldridge and James Rew gave Somerset a potentially useful lead of 90 runs.

Aldridge was unbeaten on 50 while Rew made 57 before he was out in surreal circumstances.

Garrett said: “It was a cool feeling today, getting that first wicket. A lot of hard work has gone into that.

“After the uncertainty of being released by Warwickshire, I came to Kent and they gave me a chance so, to get that first wicket under my belt, that’s awesome.”

The draw always looked the most likely outcome after 119 overs were lost to the elements on days one and two but, if the home side were going to force the issue, they needed to exploit the new ball.

They couldn’t. Former Kent batsman Sean Dickson was on four when he edged Wes Agar (1-45) between second and third slips, but both Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning went for the catch and neither managed to hang on.

Dickson failed to cash in, though, edging Garrett to Leaning for 17. That was the only bright moment for the hosts in an otherwise joyless morning session that ended with Somerset on 108-1.

Lammonby played with restrained elegance, although he reached his 50 with a streakily edged four off Garrett.

Renshaw was then dropped on 58 off Parkinson when Joe Denly couldn’t hang on to a diving chance at mid-on. Parkinson, however, broke through in his next over,