1.15pm Kent will be without their captain and opening batsman Robert Key this afternoon when they set off on a run-chase which has already climbed to 462, writes Mike Averis at Taunton. Key drove home to Whitstable this morning to be with his wife Fleur at the birth of their second child, leaving Martin van Jaarsveld in charge while Somerset extended their overnight lead of 348.
By lunch they had reached 243 for eight with Kent old boy Ben Phillips, making an undefeated 53 - his first championship half-century for his new county. The 33-year-old Londoner, who has a century for Kent against Lancashire on his CV, took 71 balls reaching his 50. It included six fours and a brutal pull which put Yasir Arafat into the car park at square leg.
Earlier Craig Kieswetter added only one to his overnight score, but Justin Langer put on 71 with Phillips, make 88 himself, before he drove at a ball from Ryan McLaren which slanted across him on its way to the wicket-keeper. Langer's stay had lasted 130 balls, including ten boundaries and stabilised the Somerset innings after the wobbles of yesterday evening.
