Nottinghamshire are closing in on their sixth victory of the Specsavers County Championship season after reducing Kent to 214 for seven on a rain-shortened third day at Trent Bridge.
The visitors lead by only 23 runs, with only one day remaining, but there is some doubt as to whether Darren Stevens will bat again after he retired hurt shortly after ducking into a short ball from Harry Gurney, who has taken three for 61.
Persistent drizzle prevented any play until 5.45pm and the resumption enabled Joe Weatherley to begin a meaningful role in the contest.
Having acted as 12th man for the first two days, Weatherley, the nominated substitute for the Lions-bound Sam Billings, continued the Kent innings alongside Will Gidman.
Still trailing by 86 runs at the start of play, the visitors survived for 45 minutes until Steven Mullaney entered the attack and bowled Gidman for 26.
Stevens, who had missed most of the second day with a heel injury, had a life on 15 when Luke Fletcher put down a difficult chance running backwards at mid-off.
Stevens was then struck on the head but, after extensive checks by the physio, plus a change of helmet, he decided to play on.
Weatherley’s resistance was breached by the returning James Pattinson, who bowled the Hampshire loanee with a rapid yorker for 16. Before another ball had been bowled, Stevens decided to retire hurt, walking off under his own steam.
The double departure left two new men at the crease but their partnership was brief as Matt Coles nicked his second delivery behind.
Adam Rouse and Adam Milne held firm, either side of a 20-minute stoppage, to push their side into the overall lead and have added 47 together so far, but they may need the help of some extended bad weather to avoid a second consecutive defeat.
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