ESSEX captain Mark Pettini scored his first championship century in almost three years to bat his side into a commanding position in the LV County Championship Division Two match against Kent at Canterbury.

While home skipper Rob Key continues to struggle for runs, so Pettini ended his drought with a five-hour century from 213 balls and with 16 fours - his first since a 29-minute ton against 'friendly' bowling at Grace Road in September 2006.

Having decided not to enforce the follow-on on the second day of this game Pettini, 25, drove home his side's advantage by batting on until just after 3pm on the third day to reach 320 for six and extend Essex's lead to 477 before his declaration.

The right-hander featured in stands of 95 for the fourth wicket with Varun Chopra (63) and 78 in 25 overs with James Foster (37) until Ryan McLaren had both Foster and Ryan ten Doeschate superbly caught in the slip cordon off successive balls.

Graham Napier then marched in to survive the hat-trick and help his skipper add a lusty 90 in 16 overs with England reject Napier contributing an unbeaten 48 from 45 balls before Pettini called time on the innings soon after reaching three figures.

Hampered by the loss of Robbie Joseph with a slight groin strain, Kent's attack struggled on a docile third-day pitch.

However, McLaren, with three wickets for 72 runs, at least showed signs of a return to form after his inactive stint sitting on the bench for IPL outfit Mumbai Indians.

Having been set 478 to win in the 130 overs remaining in the game - an asking rate of almost 3.7 per over - Kent made a decent fist of the pursuit.

Key and Joe Denly added 84 for the first wicket in 28 overs, Kent's best opening stand of the season, until the out-of-sorts Key fell for 21 from 82 balls. Shouldering arms to a David Masters off-cutter, the Kent skipper allowed the ball to nip back and graze his off-stump.

Denly continued to a breezy 78-ball 50 with 10 fours and in tandem with left-hander James Tredwell, promoted to bat at number three to restrict the spin bowling threat of Danish Kaneria. The pair survived the closing 12 overs of the day in adding a further 23 runs.

It will take another mammoth effort from England Lions' opener Denly, who scored a career-best 149 here last season in a losing cause against Somerset, if Kent are to stave off their first defeat of the championship season.