Evison maintains Kent's position after being hit hard by Gregory

Kent was dismissed for 284 by Somerset on a fluctuating second day in the Vitality County Championship at Canterbury. Joey Evison scored 85 and Harry Finch 54 as the hosts recovered from 114 for 5.

Somerset captain Lewis Gregory's first over was expensive, conceding 20 runs, but he recovered to take 4 for 66, including the crucial wicket of Evison. Bad light interrupted play before Somerset could begin their innings, with 23 overs remaining.

The first day at the Spitfire Ground was cancelled due to bad weather. On Saturday morning, the blustery conditions required the advertising hoardings to be safely stacked away from the boundary.

Somerset chose to bowl and their opening spell was torrid. Kent only managed to score 17 runs off the first ten overs from Josh Davey and Jake Ball. When Gregory came on from the Nackington Road End, the batters were initially able to score more freely.

Tawanda Muyeye took 24 balls and 39 minutes to score his first run. Once the opening pair had been seen off, he hit 33 runs from 55 balls before being bowled by Gregory. In Gregory's next over, he had Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond caught at second slip by Kasey Aldridge. Jack Leaning then went for a golden duck, caught behind down the leg side by James Rew off Ned Leonard.

Matt Renshaw caught Joe Denly for 19 with the final ball of the session, leaving Kent on 110 for 4 at lunch.

Compton attempted to hook Gregory and was caught on the boundary by Leonard for 32. Kent responded with a partnership of 93, as Evison joined Finch to take the hosts past the 200 mark.

Aldridge helped Somerset gain an advantage by taking two wickets in the 53rd over. Finch was caught by Tom Banton at midwicket and Wes Agar was caught for a duck in the slips by Gregory.

Evison, fearing he might run out of partners, went on the attack and hit Renshaw for a six over cow corner. Tom Lammonby dropped him on 51 off Aldridge, but Goldsworthy then took his first ever first-class wicket by bowling Nathan Gilchrist for 2. This left Kent on 235 for 8 at tea.

The hosts responded with a 61-run partnership for the ninth wicket, which was only broken when Evison attempted to drive Goldsworthy. The ball deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker's end, running out Matt Parkinson for 25. Evison fell on the deep square leg boundary while attempting to hook Gregory and was caught by Goldsworthy.

Somerset's openers, Lammonby and Sean Dickson, had just made it to the middle when the umpires suspended play due to poor light. As no improvement was expected, the evening session was abandoned at 6.05pm.