LANCASHIRE were struggling to recover today from a Canterbury tale of woe.

Their batting problems returned with a vengeance as they were skittled out for only 214 by Kent's England all-rounder Mark Ealham, who claimed six for 64.

That left Kent with a first innings lead of 134 after Lancashire had allowed them to recover from 205 for eight to 348 all out.

Only Mark Chilton and Neil Fairbrother offered much resistance as Ealham swung the ball about in muggy conditions.

Jamie Haynes had gone early on his 27th birthday, caught at second slip, but the real damage was done as Lancashire slumped from 57 for one to 75 for five.

John Crawley edged Ealham to slip, Andy Flintoff was lbw, Joe Scuderi gave Min Patel catching practice at third slip and Chilton was lbw to Ben Trott for 35.

That left Fairbrother in a familiar position of trying to hold the innings together as he aimed to complete a full set of centuries against every other county - Kent are the only one he is missing.

But he ran out of partners and ended high and dry on 39.

Warren Hegg and John Wood each made a quick 20 but Gary Keedy and Mike Smethurst went cheaply and at 174 for nine, Lancashire still needed 25 to avoid the follow-on.

They escaped thanks to Fairbrother and Muttiah Muralitharan who put on 40 for the last wicket, the best stand of the innings.

Murali slogged 21, his best score for Lancashire on possibly his last Championship appearance, before holing out to deep square leg, earning a pat on the helmet from Fairbrother.

But Lancashire's performance, Fairbrother apart, again showed the weakness of their batting without Mike Atherton, which has been their main problem all season.

And with Yorkshire surging towards yet another victory at Northampton, they were in danger of falling way off the pace at the top of the First Division.