Walker leads Kent out of trouble at Leicester

Kent left-hander Matthew Walker made Leicestershire pay a heavy price for dropping him on 20 by completing his fourth CricInfo Championship century of the season at Grace Road.

Walker was put down at second slip by former Kent man Trevor Ward off the bowling of Matthew Whiley and Kent were able to wriggle off the hook having been in trouble at 153 for five in reply to Leicestershire's 425.

At that stage they looked in danger of following on, but with Walker holding the innings together they sailed past the target of 276 with little trouble and closed the day on 358 for eight - 67 behind.

Walker and former Leicestershire wicket-keeper Paul Nixon shared a partnership of 90 for the sixth wicket and then, after Nixon was out, Kent captain Matthew Fleming joined Walker in a seventh-wicket stand of 91.

It all added up to a bad day in the field for the home side who failed to take their exciting form in one-day cricket into the Championship.

After totalling 425 their bowling was wayward and undisciplined and the fielding untidy. They conceded 53 extras against Kent's seven, with far too many wides and no-balls, and dropped four catches.

Kent made the most of their good fortune and are now in a position to win the game themselves, although a draw looks the most likely outcome on such an easy paced pitch.

Before lunch Kent seamer Martin Saggers claimed the last Leicestershire wickets to finish with six for 92 - his third five-wicket haul of the season.

The visitors didn't make the best of starts to their reply with openers David Fulton and Robert Key out in the first 11 overs. And when Ed Smith, Andrew Symonds and Mark Ealham were dismissed in the early part of the afternoon, the signs were ominous.

But Walker, Nixon and Fleming then kept Leicestershire at bay. Walker reached his century off 180 balls with 17 fours and Fleming hit a half-century off 45 balls with 10 fours before being bowled by Darren Maddy. Walker was still there at the close on 107.