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Ollie Robinson scores century as Kent fight back against Northamptonshire

Ollie Robinson reached his maiden first-class ton Getty Images

Kent 330 for 5 (Robinson 120, Cox 90, Denly 63) trail Northamptonshire 392 (Gay 101, Procter 81, Vasconcelos 66, Stevens 5-73) by 62 runs

Ollie Robinson hit a century and claimed the 100th catch of his career as Kent fought back on day three of their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Northants at Canterbury.

The wicketkeeper hit 120 from 119 balls, including 16 fours and three sixes as Kent reached 330 for 5 in reply to Northants' 392 all out, a deficit of 62. Jordan Cox was Kent's next-highest scorer with 90 and Joe Denly made 63.

Simon Kerrigan claimed 2 for 80 as Northants took a cluster of late wickets but, barring a sporting declaration tomorrow, the match is almost certain to end as a draw.

Earlier, Darren Stevens took five for 73, the 31st five-wicket haul of his career, and Matt Quinn claimed 4 for 86 as Northants added just 30 runs to their overnight score of 362 for 5, following a delayed start.

Saif Zaib fell to the fifth ball of the day, edging Stevens behind for 21 and becoming Robinson's 100th victim after a brilliant one-handed dive. Tom Taylor was lbw for 25 in Stevens' next over and Quinn then took two wickets from three balls, getting Nathan Buck caught behind for 4 and removing Gareth Berg, caught by Jack Leaning at first slip for 10.

Northants missed out on a fourth bonus point when Stevens had Ben Sanderson caught behind for 4 and Kent's openers responded with their first century stand of the season.

Robinson, dropped on 48 by Berg, reached his century when he steered Berg through point for four. He then hooked Berg for a third six over long leg and finally fell lbw to Buck, a split-second after a car alarm went off, although he didn't appear to be distracted.

Cox reached his third half-century with a glanced four to third man and subsequently smashed Kerrigan for a six into the top tier of the Frank Woolley stand.

Denly was dropped on 38 when he edged Taylor to second slip, only for the ball to crash into Berg's ribs. He passed 50 by smashing Kerrigan over the Woolley stand, before Kerrigan finally tasted success when he trapped Cox lbw.

Rob Keogh had Denly caught at deep square leg by Zaib and Daniel Bell-Drummond was lbw to Kerrigan for 19. Zaib then had Leaning caught behind in the penultimate over for 24.

Northants 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st10R VasconcelosEN Gay
2nd15GK BergR Vasconcelos
3rd25GK BergRI Keogh
4th10GK BergSA Zaib
5th13AM RossingtonSA Zaib
6th51LA ProcterAM Rossington
7th14AM RossingtonTAI Taylor
8th12NL BuckAM Rossington
9th34SC KerriganAM Rossington

County Championship

Division 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS431068
LANCS421157
WARKS421156
HANTS421153
YORKS412140
SOM404014
Division 2
TeamMWLDPT
ESSEX430177
GLOUC431064
DURH311140
NHNTS412138
SUR301227
GLAM403123
Division 3
TeamMWLDPT
KENT440083
MIDDX431067
WORCS422049
LEICS412143
DERBS412142
SUSS404018
Group 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS10424151
WARKS10415145
DURH10325132
ESSEX10325129
WORCS10136109
DERBS1005572
Group 2
TeamMWLDPT
SOM10415148
HANTS10424145
GLOUC10532131
SUR10226123
LEICS10244111
MIDDX1027184
Group 3
TeamMWLDPT
LANCS10415150
YORKS10514149
GLAM10226127
NHNTS10334123
KENT1003797
SUSS1015494