WHAT Vikram Solanki did for Worcestershire was matched by Andrew Symonds for Kent in the high-scoring Division One match in the Frizzell County Championship at New Road.

In the way that Solanki delighted a first-day crowd with a century off 124 balls, Symonds, the Birmingham-born Aussie, upped the tempo with a hundred from 98 deliveries on the second afternoon.

Two beautifully constructed innings by two class acts put a delicate balance on the game today.

Kent resumed at 347-6, still 106 in arrears, and James Tredwell and Niall O'Brien soon added another 25 runs to their unbroken overnight partnership of 66 to ease Kent to 372-6 in the 87th over.

Earlier, Worcestershire's last three wickets added 97 for a total of 453, Matt Mason swiping four sixes in an undefeated 35, and next the supercharged Symonds led Kent on a six-an-over charge in their reply.

Only a late stall in the nineties -- he took 25 balls to move from 93 to his second ton of the season -- stopped the 29-year-old stroke-maker completing the fastest three-figure knock this summer.

Kent faced only five overs before lunch but that was time enough for them to score 36 -- 27 of these in 18 balls from Andy Bichel -- for the loss of two wickets.

Michael Carberry nicked two fours to third man, then edged Bichel's fifth delivery to wicketkeeper Rhodes, and Ed Smith was quickly given out when rapped on the pads by Mason.

The southerners romped past 100 in the 17th over before Robert Key was caught behind, trying to withdraw the bat from Andrew Hall's fourth ball.

Gareth Batty restored some control by having Symonds caught by Ben Smith at silly point for 103 during a spell of 11-2-26-1, but Kent accelerated again until Hall came back to claim the next highest scorers.

Walker (62) carved a catch to Stephen Peters at point and Loudon, having cruised to a championship-best 59, hooked to Stephen Moore at deep square leg.