Kent will face an uphill task to avoid defeat on the final day against Yorkshire at Canterbury.

England captain Joe Root scored a century to put Yorkshire in a commanding position on day three, setting Kent an improbable target of 445 after declaring their second innings on 330-5.

The hosts were reduced to 33-2 at stumps, David Willey bowling Jordan Cox for a second-ball duck before Jordan Thompson removed Zak Crawley for just four.

Although Kent bowled well for the first hour, their only success during that time came when Grant Stewart had Tom Kohler-Cadmore caught at first slip by Jordan Cox for three.

Matt Milnes trapped Tom Loten lbw for 21, shortly before lunch, but an attack shorn of the injured Harry Podmore struggled to make any impact during a truncated afternoon session.

Opener Adam Lyth was on 85 when he edged Milnes to slip, but Zak Crawley missed a difficult chance and having made 97 in his first innings, Lyth emitted a howl of joy when he reached his century with a four off Miguel Cummins.

The visitors had moved on to 171-2 when play was suspended between 2.50pm and 4.10pm while the funeral of Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh took place.

Lyth eventually fell to Milnes (2-68), caught at first slip by Cox, ending a stand of 119 for the third wicket. Harry Brook then joined Root and scored rapidly to set up the declaration, making an unbeaten 66 that included a reverse swept four.

Root was bowled by Joe Denly (2-61) just after reaching his ton and Yorkshire declared when the same bowler removed Thompson for six in his next over, forcing Kent to face 12 hazardous overs before stumps.

Willey subsequently yorked Cox for a duck and Crawley was caught by Lyth at slip off Thompson, leaving Daniel Bell-Drummond and nightwatchman Milnes together at the close.

With Podmore not batting, Kent will need to bat out the final day on Sunday with effectively just seven wickets remaining to escape with a draw.

Kent skipper Bell-Drummond said: “Obviously we need to start well and try to get through that first hour unscathed or with as little damage as possible.

"I feel if we get past the new ball that it’s a wicket we can get stuck in on and get the job done on.

“Lyth played very well and deserved his luck. That first hour was a very good period for us, it started to swing, probably for the first time in the game.

"Grant Stewart and Matt Milnes bowled really well so it was a shame we couldn’t get more than one, but fair play to the Yorkshire guys as well, they played well.”