COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Canterbury:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Hampshire 204 & 16-0, Kent 182
Hampshire 4pts, Kent 3pts
Match scorecard

James Tomlinson has now taken 41 wickets in the Championship this season

Hampshire claimed a narrow advantage over Kent on day two of their bottom-of-the-table clash at Canterbury.

After rain wiped out the morning session, Kent were bowled out for 182, a first-innings deficit of 22, left-arm seamer James Tomlinson taking 4-59.

Hampshire, who will virtually secure their Division One safety with victory, then moved to 16-0 at the close.

In claiming the maximum of three bonus points, Hampshire condemned Essex to relegation to Division Two.

Play did not begin until after lunch, with Kent, who had resumed on 15-1, then losing skipper Rob Key, Joe Denly (42) and Geraint Jones before tea.

But their capitulation was accelerated after the interval as Tomlinson got to work on the middle order.

606: DEBATE Now we need to bat to make sure we do not lose, that is more important than winning with Kent behind us in the table skimpton

Darren Stevens was well caught by wicketkeeper Michael to start a collapse that saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for 47 runs.

It was Matt Coles, ninth man out and Tomlinson's fourth victim, who had the dubious honour of sealing Essex's fate when he was caught by Bates.

James Tredwell holed out on the leg side to become the last wicket to fall, leaving Hampshire openers Michael Carberry and Jimmy Adams 12 overs to bat in gloomy conditions before the close.

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