LANCASHIRE were in deep trouble at Canterbury as Mark Ealham took four wickets to leave them on 101-5 after just 25 overs.

In the morning Kent went from 301 for eight overnight to 348 all out in 50 minutes to leave a formidable target.

Martin Saggers completed a memorable 24 hours by celebrating the award of his county cap by making a maiden championship half-century.

Saggers shared in a 116-run stand with Paul Nixon (82) for the ninth wicket.

Saggers had received his county cap at lunchtime yesterday and finished unbeaten on 61, as Kent fell just short of a fourth batting bonus point.

The ninth-wicket pair were just four short of a county record partnership when Nixon failed to control a high-bouncing short ball from John Wood, hooking down to long leg where Muttiah Muralitharan took a well-judged catch as he back-pedalled almost on to the boundary rope.

Saggers kept his concentration after losing his senior partner to bring up a convincing half-century in the grand manner with a perfect pull in front of square for four off Wood.

Ben Trott became the 10th Kent batsman to reach double figures in helping Saggers add more handy runs for the final wicket, before edging a ball from Joe Scuderi (three for 48) behind for Warren Hegg's fifth catch of the innings.

Saggers closed unbowed, having passed his 50 from 120 balls with eight fours along the way.