LIVE BLOG: Lancashire v Kent, Day Three
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6.33pm, CLOSE Day 3
Kent 2nd inns 71-1, need another 93 runs to win. Compton 14* Bell-Drummond 39*
Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond have survived some great deliveries from Nathan Lyon and Tom Hartley in the last hour - I'm not quite sure how.
But that was an intense and absorbing day of cricket at Emirates Old Trafford.
5.55pm
Kent 2nd inns 49-1, need another 115 runs to win. Compton 10* Bell-Drummond 27*
Lancashire were convinced they had a breakthrough as Daniel Bell-Drummond pushed hesitantly outside off stump at Will Williams but to no avail.
It's tense out there! 10 overs left today.
5.25pm
Kent 2nd inns 31-1, need another 133 runs to win.
We've had four boundaries and a similar number of big appeals - all unsuccessful - in an action packed twenty minutes.
Nathan Lyon is now joining the Red Rose attack in the seventh over.
5.02pm
Kent 2nd inns 5-1, need another 159 runs to win.
WHAT A START! George Balderson has Zak Crawley lbw for 1 with his first delivery!!
4.47pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 332 all out. KENT NEED 164 RUNS TO WIN
So has Tom Hartley who is bowled around his legs aiming a big sweep at Matt Parkinson.
There are 24 overs left today.
4.43pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 332-9 lead by 163 runs, Hartley 35* Lyon 0*
Tom Bailey has gone, lbw to Wes Agar for 1.
4.30pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 329-8 lead by 160 runs, Hartley 33* Bailey 0*
Matty Hurst departs for 58 off 164 balls, edging a big turning delivery from Matt Parkinson to Daniel Bell-Drummond at slip.
That's a big blow for Lancashire and great relief for Kent.
4.00pm, TEA Day 3
Lancashire 2nd inns 320-7 lead by 151 runs, Hurst 57* Hartley 25*
Red Rose hopes continue to build as the lead passes 150 runs thanks to a fine innings from Matty Hurst and an excellent contribution by Tom Hartley with this eighth wicket partnership now worth 45 runs.
3.38pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 302-7 lead by 133 runs, Hurst 50* Hartley 17*
Fabulous fifty by Matty Hurst who has shown great concentration and determination in reaching the landmark from 134 balls with just the one four.
A very valuable innings for the Red Rose.
3.25pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 296-7 lead by 127 runs, Hurst 46* Hartley 14*
Matty Hurst survives a big lbw shout against Grant Stewart. He's four away from a half century and getting great support from Tom Hartley as Lancashire are fighting hard to build this lead.
3.00pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 275-7 lead by 106 runs, Hurst 39* Hartley 0*
And Kent have their breakthrough!
Wes Agar produces a terrific delivery with the new ball that bounces a bit more than maybe George Bell expected and he edges behind after making a splendid 65.
2.55pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 274-6 lead by 105 runs, Bell 64* Hurst 39*
Wes Agar and Nathan Gilchrist hunt for a breakthrough but George Bell and Matty Hurst, who came together 30 overs ago, stand firm.
A fascinating battle is developing.
2.35pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 268-6 lead by 99 runs, Bell 62* Hurst 37*
Kent take the new ball as the Lancashire lead approaches one hundred.
A hugely important spell in the match arrives.
Nathan Gilchrist has the new cherry.
2.22pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 247-6 lead by 78 runs, Bell 53* Hurst 25*
An excellent fifty and in the context of the game an important one by George Bell who reaches the landmark with a pull for four off Joe Denly.
The next ball is a wide and that brings up the 50 partnership for the seventh wicket from 132 balls.
2.10pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 233-6 lead by 64 runs, Bell 45* Hurst 20*
Just the 9 runs added since lunch as George Bell and Matty Hurst make careful progress as Lancashire look to eke out their lead.
1.10pm, LUNCH Day 3
Lancashire 2nd inns 224-6 lead by 55 runs, Bell 41* Hurst 15*
George Bell and Matty Hurst have fought hard to get to the lunch interval as Lancashire look to build this lead and have something to bowl at later in this match.
12.55pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 220-6 lead by 51 runs, Bell 39* Hurst 13*
Kent bringing Joe Denly on to bowl some leg spin before lunch.
12.35pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 197-6 lead by 28 runs, Bell 29* Hurst 0*
George Bell gets a 'life' when Zak Crawley is unable to cling on to a sharp chance at slip off Matt Parkinson.
But Daniel Bell-Drummond does hang on to a low catch at short gully off spinner Jack Leaning to end George Balderson's fine effort on 48.
12.20pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 189-5 lead by 20 runs, Balderson 44* Bell 25*
The sunny weather today is making batting conditions much better than the swinging, seaming conditions from the overcast conditions of days one and two.
George Balderson and George Bell are taking advantage and building a really good partnership this morning, now worth 63 runs.
12.00pm
Lancashire 2nd inns 172-5 lead by 3 runs, Balderson 35* Bell 17*
George Balderson has swept Matt Parkinson backward of square for four and George Bell clipped Nathan Gilchrist to fine leg for four as these two continue to make progress.
Lancashire are now in the lead - just - and this partnership has added 50 runs in 13 overs so far.
11.45am
Lancashire 2nd inns 154-5 trail by 15 runs, Balderson 24* Bell 10
Georges Balderson and Bell are progressing nicely, Balderson clipping Matt Parkinson for four through midwicket just now.
11.30am
Lancashire 2nd inns 130-5 trail by 39 runs, Balderson 10* Bell 4*
George Bell gets off the mark in great style, pulling a short ball from Wes Agar in front of midwicket for four.
11.10am
Lancashire 2nd inns 122-5 trail by 47 runs, Balderson 6* Bell 0*
Kent strike early with Tom Bruce bowled by Wes Agar for 12.
11.03am
Lancashire 2nd inns 122-4 trail by 47 runs, Balderson 6* Bruce 12*
George Balderson gets the first runs of the day with three down to third man.
Kent are opening the day with Wes Agar and Grant Stewart starting the visitor's hunt for the remaining six wickets.
9.30am
Good morning from - at last - a very sunny Emirates Old Trafford ahead of the third day our Vitality County Championship match against Kent.
Game situation
Sadly not quite as sunny, from a Lancashire perspective with the side on 119-4 in their second innings and needing 50 runs to make Kent bat again.
George Balderson (3 not out) and Tom Bruce (12 not out) will have the initial chance to do something about that when play resumes at 11am.
Teams
Lancashire: Keaton Jennings (capt), Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon, George Balderson, George Bell, Tom Bruce, Tom Hartley, Matty Hurst (wkt), Tom Bailey, Nathan Lyon, Will Williams.
Kent: Ben Compton, Zak Crawley, Daniel Bell-Drummond (capt), Jack Leaning, Joe Denly, Harry Finch (wkt), Joey Evison, Grant Stewart, Wes Agar, Nathan Gilchrist, Matt Parkinson.