Seamer Mitch Claydon said he was enjoying his role in the Kent bowling attack after taking five wickets in the Championship game with Essex.

Claydon’s figures of 5-82 from 27 overs gave him his third career five-for, as Kent bowled Essex out for 440 with a first-innings lead of 53.

Openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Rob Key were then able to see out 15 overs before the close to reduce that deficit to 18 runs heading into the final day, with the game looking more than likely to end as a draw.

Speaking after the close, the 31-year-old said he was happy with the team’s work on the third day; a day which saw 39 overs lost in total due to rain.

“It was a tough day”, he admitted. “The wicket was pretty flat and it was hard going on and off. I think we’ve done pretty well – they were 360 for 3 or something like that, and we bowled them out for 440 and we’re almost equal with them now, so it was a good day’s cricket.”

Claydon also paid tribute to Essex batsmen Ravi Bopara and Tom Westley, who made big scores of 162 and 116, respectively.

“Hats off to their two lads – Ravi [Bopara] and Tom Westley – they played brilliantly”, Claydon said.

“They gave us one chance early, and then after that we didn’t really look like getting a wicket for 70-odd overs. I think that just showed how good the wicket was for batting. We still toiled away and didn’t let them get too far ahead.

“To pick up five or six this afternoon for not many and bowl them out was a great result, because we could have been up against it if they’d got a big lead – 150 or 200 – you just never know.”

The Australian-born right-armer has been almost ever-present for Kent in all forms of cricket this season, featuring in 11 of Kent’s 13 games in all formats, and he said he was enjoying his role as a senior member of the bowling attack.

“I’m enjoying my role – bowling plenty of overs – I’ve never really had that role before. In my time at Durham, I was always played as a third or fourth seamer. I was thrown the ball when it was flat, and now to just always get thrown the ball and just keep bowling and bowling; I’m loving it.

“I feel like I’ve been bowling really well the last couple of months, but haven’t got the wickets that I thought I should have had. To pick up five today was nice.”

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