Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat starred with both bat and ball as Kent took command on day three of their LV Championship match with Yorkshire.

The 26-year-old from Rawalpindi scored a season's best 90 not out in the morning as Kent batted on to reach 467 and a first-innings lead of 57.

Then, in two stunning bursts down the St Lawrence slope, the right-arm paceman claimed 4-38.

Yorkshire succumbed for 196 inside 52 overs to leave Kent needing 140 to win.

It was a sorry capitulation by Yorkshire who, having dominated the first day of the game in reaching 359-5, gradually allowed their commanding position to slip through a combination of shoddy bowling and then poor shot selection.

Only Gerard Brophy, with 51 from 62 balls, and Jacques Rudolph, who scored 47 in almost two hours, seemed prepared to fight it out and bat any length of time on a placid pitch as Yorkshire wilted to lose seven second innings wickets in the final session of day three.

Arafat, who swung and seamed the ball, took 4-38 while Robbie Joseph's extra pace accounted for Adil Rashid and Tim Bresnan in a late burst of 2-25.

The Kent attack, backed by seven excellent slip catches, bagged Yorkshire's last six wickets in only 10 overs.

Resuming on their overnight score of 298 for six in their first innings at the start of the day, Kent were indebted to their skipper Rob Key, with a season's best 157 and Arafat for their lead.

It gave them a tally of maximum batting bonus points as the hop county posted 467 - their best first innings total in the championship this summer.