Read and Stemp spring rescue act

A last-wicket stand of 135 between Chris Read and Richard Stemp spared Nottinghamshire's blushes against Hampshire in their Second Division Championship match at the Rose Bowl yesterday.

The visitors were staring defeat in the face when they were reeling on 74 for 9 in response to Hampshire's first-innings total of 347 but Read and Stemp avoided the follow-on.

Stemp hit 10 fours in a career-best 66 before perishing on the long-off boundary as Nottinghamshire completed their revival. Read was left unbeaten with 76, but Hampshire were still left with an intimidating first-innings lead of 138.

Hampshire finished the day 223 runs in front on 85 for 3 with Derek Kenway having hit nine fours in his unbeaten 50.

Robert Key's third century of the summer was the feature of Kent's innings as they consolidated their strong position against Essex on a rain-interrupted second day of their First Division match at Southend.

Key, 40 overnight, had carried his score to 100 by the close, which arrived with the visitors on 253 for 4 and already 146 ahead on the first innings.

Kent began the day on 116 for 0, but the first ball, sent down by Justin Bishop, bowled David Fulton for 70 and eight runs later the seamer removed Ed Smith.

With Ronnie Irani unable to bowl, it was left to Bishop and Ashley Cowan to shoulder most of the burden of the seam attack.

Cowan's took 2 for 51 from 26 overs, but Bishop deserved better than 2 for 84. But despite their efforts, Essex's hopes of avoiding their fifth defeat of the campaign depend on the weather.

A double century by Iain Sutcliffe and a third century in six innings from Ben Smith helped Leicestershire to take a grip on their Second Division match against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

The second-wicket pair shared a partnership of 229 in 61 overs as the Glamorgan bowlers wilted under the pressure. Leicestershire were eventually dismissed for 588, leaving the Welsh team to make 439 just to avoid the follow-on. They lost Ian Thomas but Steve James and Matthew Maynard took them to 52 without further loss.