Mahmood magic sinks Essex

Mahmood (5-62) takes the plaudits

LV County Championship - Division One
Canterbury
Kent 420 (M van Jaarsveld 106, G O Jones 99, B E McGain 5-151) & 135 (A Carter 5-40) v Essex 279 (M L Pettini 88) & 177 (Azhar Mahmood 5-62)
Kent (24pts) beat Essex (4pts) by 99 runs

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All-rounder Azhar Mahmood claimed a five-wicket haul as Kent's hopes of avoiding relegation were handed a massive boost with victory over Essex.

The former Pakistan international finished with figures of 5-62 as the Eagles crashed to 177 all out on the final day, losing by 99 runs as a result.

Mahmood, who dismissed opener Mark Pettini (4) late on day three, picked up where he left off in the final morning as Kent sped to victory before tea.

The veteran medium-pacer sent Jaik Mickleburgh, Matt Walker, Dave Masters and Maurice Chambers back to the pavilion as Essex never threatened their 277 victory target.

Only Walker (35) and Bopara (31) surpassed 25 as Kent claimed a huge 24-point haul in their bid to avoid relegation to Division Two.

Day Three

Andy Carter picked up a five-wicket haul to help Essex turn the tables on Kent on an eventful third day that saw 15 wickets fall at Canterbury.

Resuming in the morning 194-6, the visitors managed to avoid being asked to follow-on in the crucial Division One encounter thanks to a battling knock of 42 from David Masters.

Malinga Bandara, who took 3-44, eventually wrapped up the Essex reply at 279 - giving Kent a 141-run lead after both sides had batted once.

However the hosts were then skittled out for only 135 second time around, Carter - who is on loan to Essex from Nottinghamshire - doing the majority of the damage with 5-40, including removing openers Rob Key and Joe Denly.

Matt Walker completed career-best bowling figures of 3-35 against his former county by dismissing top-scorer James Tredwell for 40.

Left chasing 277, Essex lost Mark Pettini cheaply but Jaik Mickleburgh and Tom Westley made it through to stumps without further alarm, leaving their side requiring a further 229 on the final day to complete a stunning victory.

Day Two

Kent took control of their County Championship clash with Essex by restricting the visitors to 194-6 after setting an impressive total of 420 on day two at St Lawrence.

Batting at number seven, Ravi Bopara's woes continued as he was dismissed for only two runs after missing all but six overs of action on the first day as Essex battled to avoid the follow on.

The hosts resumed the day on 360-6 and stuttered towards their fifth batting bonus point, with Azhar Mahmood (28) providing the bulk of the lower-order runs.

Bryce McGain had last man out Simon Cook (seven) caught behind by James Foster to finish with 5-151 on his Essex debut.

After being part of an opening stand of 49 with Mark Pettini, Jaik Mickleburgh was dismissed by Amjad Khan (2-37) for 20, with Tom Westley following shortly after for a duck.

Former skipper Pettini batted on to an unbeaten 80 by the close, with his successor as captain Foster (41) providing the only substantial support as the rest of the middle order collapsed.

Day One

Kent recovered from an indifferent start to post 360 for six against injury-hit Essex on day one of their County Championship clash at St Lawrence.

Although Rob Key (13) and Sam Northeast (25) departed early, Martin van Jaarsveld scored his maiden championship century of the summer while Geraint Jones made 99.

With the home side winning the toss, Key - playing his first game for three weeks - pushed defensively to leg off Maurice Chambers and was caught by Jaik Mickleburgh.

Northeast mistimed a drive to substitute fielder Grant Flower at long off then, three overs after lunch, Joe Denly edged hesitantly to keeper James Foster off the bowling of Bryce McGain.

Van Jaarsveld and Jones put on a fourth-wicket stand of 176 in 41 overs, with the South African eventually departing on 106 after miscuing McGain to David Masters at mid-off.

Having survived an appeal on 88, Jones fell just short of three figures when he chipped to mid-on, with McGain ending with figures of four for 135 from 30 overs.