Jordan Cox scored a century against his former Kent team-mates, helping Essex to pile on runs towards a declaration in the Vitality County Championship at Chelmsford.
Cox, 23, hit his first three-figure score for his new county with a six over square leg, one of six sixes in an unbeaten 116. Essex raced to 257 for 4 and a lead of 374 in 40 overs during a lengthy evening session. The fast accumulation of runs was necessary due to the forecast of rain and high winds on the final day.
Earlier, Ben Compton batted for over eight and a half hours to help Kent avoid the follow-on by 33 runs. The left-hander scored 165 runs, his highest for Kent, from 263 balls with 18 boundaries.
Essex came close to asking Kent to bat again thanks to an inspired spell from leg-spinning all-rounder Matt Critchley. Following up his career-high 151 with 5 for 105, his best figures since moving from Derbyshire in 2022, Critchley made a significant contribution.
Wickets had been scarce on the second day but things were soon back to normal. Daniel Bell-Drummond had added just a single run to his overnight score when he was late on a straight delivery from Jamie Porter. He had been in the middle with Compton for 73 overs. They had put on 224 for the second wicket.
Essex needed this breakthrough after waiting so long. They took the new ball at the start of the day, and it quickly accounted for Jack Leaning in Porter's next over, lbw to one that jagged in. Shane Snater then removed Joe Denly's leg stump to claim his 100th first-class wicket.
Critchley took wickets from both ends of the pitch. Harry Finch was caught by a stooping mid-off on the first ball of a brief spell from the river end. Jaydn Denly looped a ball from the opposite end into short leg's hands. Wes Agar fell lbw as Critchley returned to his original starting point.
However, this only resulted in Nathan Gilchrist joining the team, who hit Critchley and Simon Harmer for sixes while contributing 33 runs towards the first fifty of an 88-run partnership with the immovable Compton.
Gilchrist was eventually dismissed for a career-high of 41 runs from 64 balls, having helped Kent avoid the follow-on, before edging Critchley behind where Michael Pepper caught the ball on the second attempt. Critchley confirmed his fourth career five-wicket haul when Matt Parkinson thick-edged to slip.
At the start of play, Compton was 100 not out and witnessed the fall of wickets from the other end. He played an exceptional shot when he rocked back and drove Harmer through the covers for four. However, he was unable to carry his bat, as he was bowled around his legs while attempting to sweep Harmer.
In Essex's second innings, Dean Elgar survived a chance to Agar's third ball, dropped at the third attempt by a diving Finch. Elgar punished Kent with 34 runs from 48 balls before Garrett trapped him lbw.
Kent broke through when Feroze Khushi watched in horror as an injudicious pull off Agar ended up in deep midwicket's hands. Agar picked up a second wicket when Tom Westley played around one and was given out lbw.
Cox quickly found his range, twice flicking Parkinson for boundaries. He then smashed two fours through midwicket and a six over extra cover off Parkinson for 19. The T20-style innings continued as sixes rained around Chelmsford. Critchley scored 25 runs from 23 balls in a rapid 87-run partnership with Cox before being bowled by Parkinson. Pepper also contributed, helping to add 91 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket.