Former England under-19 opening bat Rob Key prevented Yorkshire from wrapping up a three-day victory in Canterbury with a fighting, unbeaten 97 that took the game into its final day.

Key, who scored a century against Surrey in Kent's opening match of the season, batted for four and half hours to deny Yorkshire's dangermen Ryan Sidebottom and Chris Silverwood.

After losing opening partner David Fulton (15) and makeshift No 3 Paul Nixon (2) to the left-arm swing of Sidebottom, Key teamed up with fellow young England player Matthew Walker to add 79 for the third wicket until the latter missed an attempted pull shot against Gary Fellows to go leg before.

Silverwood replaced Sidebottom at the Nackington Road End to remove Mark Ealham (0) and James Hockley (6) with catches to the slip cordon, but Key and Ed Smith - batting at No 7 because of a stomach bug, made it through to stumps with Kent on 192 for five and a slender lead of 49.

The pair added an unbroken 48, Smith contributing 31 by the time Key reached the nervous nineties where he spent seven overs on 96.

Earlier Sidebottom starred with the bat. Continuing in his role as nightwatchman he made the most of three lives to score an unbeaten 40 as the visitors improved their overnight score of 208 for four to reach 285 all out.

Ealham, David Masters and Martin Saggers bagged three wickets apiece, but four dropped catches and a missed run out cost the hosts dearly.

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