ROBERT Key has heaped praise on Swindon seam bowler Jon Lewis after the pair's duel during Gloucestershire's Frizzell County Championship Division One match with Kent at Bristol.

England man Key managed a 322-ball 164 during Kent's first innings on Thursday but never truly felt he had the measure of Lewis throughout his knock.

Lewis, who is knocking on the door for a full England call-up this summer, completed a five-wicket haul for 57 runs as Kent were bowled out for 359 yesterday.

"They bowled really well. Jon Lewis always makes it tough for you," Key said of the 29-year-old pace bowler who has long been one of English cricket's top wicket-takers and after being on the fringes of selection for some time was called up as Test match cover in South Africa last winter.

"He is a very good bowler and has become very wily with it. He bowls a great length and stays one side of the wicket, which means you are always looking for the line on off-stump or outside," Key added.

"He can mix it up and turn to swing as well so it means you have to keep thinking about what he might be doing. He was a real handful.

"This is a good cricket wicket. But there is a patch there where it kept hitting the seam, so there is something there all the time for the bowlers and he made the most of it."

Gloucestershire finished on 208-7 yesterday.