Zak Crawley’s 158 inspired Kent to 387-4 on the opening day of their LV= County Championship Division One game with Nottinghamshire.
The 25-year-old needed just 153 balls before being caught and bowled by Calvin Harrison as second-bottom Kent gave their survival hopes a boost.
By then Crawley had helped Kent to 248-2 while Daniel Bell-Drummond also hit 60 and skipper Jack Leaning an unbeaten 54 to put them in control against Nottinghamshire.
Tom Bailey’s 3 for 24 ensured Lancashire had Middlesex 132-8 as Sam Robson’s gritty 56 from 173 balls – spanning more than four hours – spared them from further embarrassment.
The visitors had fallen to 83-6 in the face of Lancashire’s rampant attack, with Will Williams and Luke Wood also claiming two wickets each.
Emilio Gay made 77 and Karun Nair 78 as Northamptonshire frustrated Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Oliver Hannon-Dalby claimed 3-for-29 as rock-bottom Northamptonshire slipped to 24-2 but Gay and Nair helped them recover to 200-2.
In Division Two, Yorkshire closed on 330-3 as Glamorgan‘s slim promotion hopes took another dent.
Finlay Bean’s 93 and Shan Masood’s unbeaten 113 had Yorkshire firmly in charge.
Ollie Price’s career best 125 not out helped Gloucestershire to 333-6 against Derbyshire. He and captain Graeme van Buuren (78) put on a fifth-wicket stand of 157.
Sussex were all out for 262 against Leicestershire, with Fynn Hudson Prentice top scoring with 65 as Matt Salisbury claimed 5-for-73.
In reply, Leicestershire lost Sol Budinger and Lewis Hill to finish the day on 68-2, trailing by 194.