Player ratings: Lancashire v Kent LVCC

Paul Horton scored half-centuries in both innings including 67* in the second innings to help Lancashire secure victory.

Lancashire:

Paul Horton (8) - 71, 67*: Lancashire's man of the moment. Horton shared 98 runs with Ashwell Prince in the first innings, playing a key role in the Red Rose's monumental first innings score of 444. When Lancashire needed 104 runs in 21 overs, Horton was forced to play with positive intent from the word go and he did just that. He scored a half-century at a run-a-ball as he ensured that Lancashire closed in on their victory target with 14 balls to spare, finishing unbeaten on 67 from 62 balls as he hit a six over mid-wicket and a seventh boundary to hit the winning runs.

Luis Reece (3) - 18, 16: Reece is still yet to find the innings that will kickstart his season, although his departure in the second innings can be excused given the fact that he was trying to assist Horton. Reece played with positivity in the second innings hitting Claydon for successive boundaries to help get their run-chase off to a good start, but a big score will be the only way to secure a place at the top of the order.

Alviro Petersen (3) - 0, 22: After scoring a century on debut, the Lancashire faithful were expecting more from the South-African on his home debut in Championship cricket. Petersen's first-ball duck in Lancashire's first innings was disappointing and forced the hosts to recover from losing two wickets in as many deliveries. However, Petersen redeemed himself with a measured approach in the run-chase, adding 22 in 27 deliveries as he assisted Horton to a vital win.

Prince's 41st first-class century guided
Lancashire towards 444 in their first innings.

Ashwell Prince (7) - 106: Prince's first century of the season was crucial in helping the hosts recover from 38/2. The South-African shared partnerships with Horton, Steven Croft and Alex Davies to help Lancashire towards their impressive first-innings total. Whenever Lancashire experience some kind of top-order collapse he is a dependable figure and this was the case once again as he led the Red Rose to a daunting total, one which allowed them to enforce a follow-on and eventually win the match.

Steven Croft (5) - 37 & 0-7, 0-7: Lancashire's stand in captain played a vitally important hand in his 75-run partnership with Prince. He also captained the side incredibly well in the absence of Tom Smith and his record as Lancashire captain across all formats makes impressive reading. Croft's tactical bowling changes kept Kent's determined tail-enders guessing and his sharp catch to remove Matt Coles broke a partnership which threatened to end Lancashire's rally for victory.

Alex Davies (8) - 99 & four catches, 1 stumping: Another incredible game for the 20-year-old wicketkeeper. He was cruelly denied a maiden first-class century but he proved once again to be a more than dependable batsman for someone so young. His approach before reaching fifty was calm and diligent, but after passing his half-century he opened up his shoulders and raced towards what would have been a thoroughly deserved ton. Davies has scored 228 runs already this season at an average of 76.

The Lancashire wicketkeeper is is superb form.

Jordan Clark (5) - 16 & 1-43, 1-54: A solid debut for the Cumbrian-born all-rounder who bowled with tremendous pace and he can count himself unlucky not to claim more wickets for his efforts. He applied himself well before falling to the first ball of the second day but when he had a chance to make an impact on the game he tried incredibly hard to make a breakthrough.

Peter Siddle (6) - 12 & 2-57, 3-36: The Australian played a key role on his home debut for Lancashire. He was likely to enjoy the opportunity of bowling on a harder wicket after a modest return of three wickets in the first match. Siddle and Jarvis make a deadly combination in the second division and even though he is only available for the first four matches, Siddle is out to make an impact before joining his Australian teammates.

Tom Bailey (3) - 21 & 0-53, 0-50: The young fast bowler ended up making more of an impact with the bat than the ball, although this wasn't reflective of the amount of effort he put in to his bowling. It was similar to his performance at Derby in that his first-innings efforts were slightly off the mark, but whereas at Derby his improvement and accuracy were rewarded with wickets, on this occasion he remained wicketless for the entire game.

Simon Kerrigan (5) - 10 & 2-27, 2-50: The left-arm spinner was needed in both of Kent's innings in order to unsettle determined tail-enders. As Lancashire went in pursuit of seven wickets on the final day, Kerrigan ended Coles's innings of 28 off 71 balls before he claimed the final wicket of Mitchell Claydon to give the Red Rose a chance of winning the game. As is often the case, early-season conditions are offering more for pace bowlers and so his usefulness as a spinner is yet to be fully realised.

Jarivs is the leading wicket taker in Division Two
after claiming 8 for 117 in the match.

Kyle Jarvis (8 - Man of the match) - 26 & 4-50, 4-67: Another sublime performance from the Zimbabwean fast bowler who can do no wrong this season. He has worked hard to get to a stage where his raw pace and ability to swing the ball both ways are features which are truly beneficial. Last year these factors were taken advantage of by county pros, but this season he is one who is making others look ordinary. His fourth wicket in Kent's second innings was his 13th wicket of the season. These wickets have come at an average of 13.69 and as the Division's leading wicket-taker, Ashley Giles can ask for no more from Jarvis but to deliver the same standard all season.


Kent:

Daniel Bell-Drummond (4) - 28, 18: It seems incredibly harsh that the 21-year-old has been made to carry such large expectations with the bat this season. A superb 2014 saw a return of 955 runs, making him Kent's leading run-scorer and their lack of contributors with the bat last season was on show for all to see again in this match. Bell-Drummond got starts, but in both innings was undone by raw pace and was dismissed at times when batting was not a favourable task.

Joe Denly (6) - 28, 60: Denly's return to Kent got off to a bad start against Essex last week when he scored 3 and 0. A tough ride at Middlesex and a bad start to the season were thrown to one side as the Canterbury-born batsman finally found some form. He added 62 runs with Bell-Drummond in the first innings and 72 with Rob Key in the second innings and his first half-century of the season also guided Denly past 7,000 first-class runs.

Denly found some form in Kent's second innings.

Rob Key (4) - 5, 34: His partnership with Denly gave Kent brief hope before Key was removed by a corker of a delivery from Siddle which forced him to lose his middle stump.

Brendan Nash (4) - 16, 27: The Australian-born batsman was tipped as Kent's saviour after Lancashire had amassed 444 runs, but the manner in which he lost his wicket on both counts was disappointing for the visitors.

Sam Northeast (7 - Kent Man of the match) - 55, 43: A tremendous effort from Northeast gave Kent hope in both innings. His form since July last season has seen a return of nearly 900 runs and although many Kent fans argue he should bat higher, he is scoring runs where he is and it often a bad idea to upset a batsman in such good form.

Darren Stevens (3) - 15, 16 & 1-55, 0-23: The Kent all-rounder carries a great deal of responsibility, but it may be beneficial for Kent to see what life is like without him given the fact that he is approaching retirement and they have counted on his contributions with bat and ball for so long.

Sam Billings (5) - 28, 11 & six catches: In the week when Billings was name in an experimental ODI side to face Ireland, the Kent wicketkeeper will be on cloud nine despite this defeat. His six catches in Lancashire's first innings were proof of his ability to make an impact outside of his batting, although his contributions in both innings were promising from the 23-year-old before he failed to make good of his starts.

Coles gave a strong all-round display for Kent.

Matt Coles (5) - 19, 28 & 3-79, 0-30: Coles made an immediate impact on the game, claiming wickets with his fourth and fifth balls of the match. After attempting a reverse-sweep at the end of the second day, Coles knew he had let his side down, but the way he applied himself on the final day was testimony to what he is capable of if he shakes his tendency to take wild swings at the ball.

Mitchell Claydon (6) - 21, 24 & 4-103, 1-30: The 32-year-old gave a respectable account of his all-round abilities. He continued to bowl with pace and vigour despite Lancashire's first-innings onslaught and was eventually rewarded with four wickets. His batting temperament, like Coles before him, does need refinement, but for a tail-ender to bat with such confidence is a rare sight and one which ought to be commended.

Adam Riley (3) - 6, 17 & 1-102, 0-14: The young spinner is yet to hit the form which earned him International recognition last year. After bowling just one over in the entire first match against Essex, Riley was finally able to get some overs under his belt, although a return of one wicket was far from promising for Riley who claimed 48 wickets last season.

Ivan Thomas (3) - 4*, 4* & 1-75, 0-8: The 23-year-old carries a yard of pace and will no doubt have a bright future at the club, but a return of three wickets in two matches is not the scintillating start he was looking for.