Fulton and Ealham unearth riches for Kent

Kent batsman David Fulton took his season's tally to 1,892 runs to boost his side's third-day fightback against Division One strugglers Northamptonshire in Canterbury.

The 29-year-old Kent opener hit his ninth century of a prolific summer and was just four short of his second double ton when his six-hour stay came to an end to possibly the worst ball he had faced.

Attempting to flat-bat a wide, short ball from Michael Strong he could only pick out Graeme Swann at cover point who claimed a good low catch to send Fulton on his way.

Fulton's demise also ended a Kent record sixth-wicket stand worth 219 in 74 overs with Mark Ealham, who went on to score a 264-ball century - his first in Canterbury since 1997 - to finish unbeaten on 109.

Together the pair had wiped out Northamptonshire's first innings lead of 249 and helped the hosts to relative riches in reaching 463 for six at the close for an overall lead of 214.

With nine centuries to his name, Fulton is now aiming to become the first Kent bat since Frank Woolley to hit 10 in a summer.

Any dampness in the pitch that enabled Northamptonshire to dismiss the hosts for 108 in the opening session of the game, has long since disappeared and Northamptonshire's bland attack struggled to prevent Kent's comeback.

John Blain took his match tally to nine with the wicket of Matthew Walker in the seventh over of the day, while Strong sent back Paul Nixon just before lunch, but the visitors were thwarted throughout the mid-session when Fulton and Ealham dug in.