COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Canterbury: CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Kent 420, Essex 194-6 Kent 7pts, Essex 2pts Match scorecard
Pettini has now scored over 4,500 career first-class runs
Essex opener Mark Pettini scored a half-century but Kent remain in control following day two at Canterbury.
Pettini spent over four hours at the crease and was unbeaten on 80 at stumps, with Essex in trouble on 194-6, still trailing by 226 runs.
Amjad Khan and Azhar Mahmood both took two wickets and there was one each for Simon Cook and Malinga Bandara.
Kent had earlier been dismissed for 420 with Bryce McGain (5-151) taking a five-wicket haul on debut.
The hosts started the day on 360-6 and made hard work of reaching their fifth batting bonus point, losing James Tredwell and night watchman Khan in quick succession.
Mahmood and Malinga then joined forces to add a vital 52 in 16 overs to push the total in excess of 400.
Essex in reply made a steady start with Pettini and Jaik Mickleburgh putting on 49 for the first wicket.
But Mickleburgh became Khan's first victim, while Tom Westley fell to Cook in the next over for nought.
Former Kent favourite Matthew Walker received a warm reception when walking out to bat on his old ground but made just 10.
Essex dug in either side of tea as Pettini and James Foster (41) put on 73 for the fourth wicket, but their stand came to an abrupt end in the first over of a new stint by Mahmood.
The dismissal sparked a collapse with Tim Phillips and Bopara falling cheaply.
Bopara was batting down the order at seven after missing all but six overs of the opening day with a back strain.
Essex spinner Tim Phillips told BBC Radio Essex: "We've not had the best of days but Mark Pettini has dug in well.
"We're going to have to dig deep and see if we can get past that (the follow-on).
"I think they've bowled very well as a unit and I think perhaps we didn't crown ourselves in glory in how we bowled collectively.
"We are just going to have to play well over the next two days."
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