Ravi Bopara and Essex continued to suffer at Canterbury where Kent, having posted an impressive 420, restricted the visitors to 194 for six by stumps on day two at St Lawrence.

Bopara, batting at number seven after missing all but six overs of the opening day with a back strain, was dismissed after facing only four balls late in the final session as Kent pressed to try and enforce the follow-on.

Batting soon after midday having mopped up Kent's last four wickets, Essex made a steady start only to lose Jaik Mickleburgh (20) and Tom Westley (nought) in the space of three balls as Kent finally struck with the new ball.

Mickleburgh fenced at an Amjad Khan lifter to edge to third slip, while Westley nibbled at a Simon Cook leg-cutter and nicked low to slip.

Former Kent favourite Matthew Walker received a warm reception when walking out to bat on his old stomping ground but had reached only 10 when he followed an Azhar Mahmood out-swinger to be caught behind by Geraint Jones and make it 68 for three.

Essex dug in either side of tea through Mark Pettini and James Foster who combined to post 73 for the fourth wicket. Pettini, who abdicated the Essex captaincy last month, carried his bat through to stumps with a patient 80 while Foster, his successor as skipper, helped their cause with an equally determined 41.

Their stand came to an abrupt end in the first over of a new stint by Mahmood, who ran one down the Nackington Road slope to peg back Foster's off stump as the right-hander played back in defence.

The dismissal sparked a collapse as Tim Phillips (11), pushing forward to wrist spinner Malinga Bandara, sent a bat-pad catch to Joe Denly at short leg.

Then, six overs from the close, Bopara appeared rushed by a quick ball from Khan that feathered the edge on the way through to Jones to send him packing for two and leave Essex still 77 runs shy of avoiding the follow-on come the close.

The day started with Kent resuming their first innings on 360 for six and making hard work of reaching their fifth batting bonus point.

The hosts lost James Tredwell for the addition of a single when he under-edged to the keeper, then night watchman Khan perished leg before to a David Masters inswinger.

Mahmood and Malinga joined forces to add a vital 52 in 15.5 overs and ease Kent past 400 for the additional point. Soon after Mahmood miscued a drive to mid-off to go for 28 then Bryce McGain had Simon Cook caught behind to finish with figures of five for 151 on his Essex debut.