CRICKET:Ireland A's hopes of getting anything out of their game with Kent seconds were scuppered in the last 20 overs of the second day at Maidstone yesterday evening as they lost five wickets to leave their hosts in control.

Kent had earlier made 352 in their first innings, exactly double Ireland’s first dig, but Ireland’s top four all made good starts to help level the scores for the loss of three wickets, with Railway Union opener Tom Fisher making 51.

Lee Nelson fell for 49 just before Ireland levelled and when Andrew Poynter and John Anderson both failed to make double figures and skipper James Shannon went for 41, Ireland were only 19 runs ahead with four wickets remaining.

Rory McCann would also depart before stumps, making just six, with Stuart Thompson, who had earlier taken four wickets, unbeaten on 20 at the close, with just the tail left to extend a 47-run lead and set Kent any kind of target on the final day.