Willoughby rips through Kent

London - South Africa's Charl Willoughby took four wickets inside five overs in a remarkable spell as Essex reduced Kent to 17 for five in their County Championship Second Division clash on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old left-arm seamer, whose two Tests for the Proteas came nine years ago, finished a rain-marred opening day with the astonishing analysis of four wickets for eight runs in 4.4 overs.

Only 9.4 overs in total were possible at Chelmsford on Wednesday and of the seven Kent batsmen who've come to the crease none have yet made double figures although both Darren Stevens and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones reached stumps on four not out.

It was David Masters who struck first when he had Scott Newman caught behind for a second ball duck by James Foster, like Jones an ex-England gloveman.

Essex captain Foster then saw his decision to field first further justified by Willoughby's run of wickets as Kent's top order failed to come to terms with the seaming conditions.

Ben Harmison was lbw to Willoughby, who then struck twice in his third over when Kent captain and former England batsman Robert Key was also lbw before, two balls later, Michael Powell was caught behind.

By way of variation, Willoughby's fourth wicket came when he clean bowled West Indies batsman Brendan Nash for six.

At that stage, Willoughby had taken four for one in just nine balls to leave Kent's score at nine runs for five wickets lost.