County Championship: Kent build big lead over Worcestershire

Kent's South African batsman Sean Dickson hit his fourth first-class half century of the season

Kent batted all day on day two at Canterbury to build a 186-run lead against County Championship Division Two promotion rivals Worcestershire.

After resuming on 55-0, half-centuries by Darren Stevens (81) and opener Sean Dickson (79), for each a fourth of the summer, eased them past the visitors' meagre first-day total of 211.

The visitors hoped to limit Kent's lead but, from 209-5, they reached 397-9.

On-loan Will Gidman's unbeaten 54 helped Kent to a fourth batting point.

Worcestershire sneaked a third bowling point when spinner George Rhodes claimed his only wicket of the day, Matt Coles for 41, just before the 110-over cut-off.

Although Kent were short of a fifth batting point, they already have a potentially overwhelming lead with two days of the match still to go.

Kent batsman Darren Stevens told BBC Radio Kent:

"We're disappointed with our day's work. I got in, Dickson and Joe Denly did too, but we all got out without going on to get a big score.

"I started counting down to my hundred and it proved a big mistake. It'll be the last time I ever do that. I'm really gutted to miss out on three figures.

"If I were still there at the end of the day I'd be sitting pretty on 140 not out and the side would have a 220 lead. We should be in a stronger position."