Yorkshire face prospect of another humiliation

Yorkshire's stuttering start to the defence of their first County Championship title for 33 years continued as Kent took two second-innings wickets for 11 runs after amassing a first-innings lead of 179 at Canterbury yesterday.

Yorkshire's stuttering start to the defence of their first County Championship title for 33 years continued as Kent took two second-innings wickets for 11 runs after amassing a first-innings lead of 179 at Canterbury yesterday.

Yorkshire just managed to control Kent's run gallop after an opening stand of 198 by Robert Key and David Fulton, but face an uphill task to avoid their third successive Frizzell County Championship defeat.

After finally dismissing Kent for 418 Yorkshire, left to negotiate 10 overs before the close, lost Matthew Wood and Michael Lumb to a lively opening spell from Martin Saggers.

The England all-rounder Craig White and the captain, Darren Lehmann, avoided further catastrophe, guiding Yorkshire through to 22 for 2. But the Tykes still need another 157 runs to make Kent bat again and avoid the humiliation of defeat inside three days.

Somerset built on an excellent first day to leave Leicestershire still 175 runs short of the follow-on with three wickets intact at close of play at Taunton yesterday. The home side turned an overnight 390 for 3 into 565 all out, with Keith Dutch to the fore, scoring a quick-fire 70.

Leicestershire made an unconvincing reply with a steady fall of wickets throughout the afternoon and evening preventing them from ever really threatening to build up a head of steam.

They finished the day on 241 for 7. Matthew Bulbeck was the pick of the home attack, finishing with figures of 3 for 44.