Daniel Bell-Drummond hit his maiden County Championship century on an even first day’s play between Kent and Derbyshire at Canterbury.

The 20-year-old opening batsman went to three figures for the third time in his Kent career, but the first in a Championship match, scoring 101 as Kent reached 259 for 8 at stumps, having won the toss and elected to bat first.

It was to be an even first day’s play though with neither side really holding sway after an entertaining day in the glorious Kent sunshine. Tony Palladino wreaked havoc with the second new ball just around the time Bell-Drummond reached his landmark, as Kent slipped from the more-than healthy position of 240-4 to 247-8 not long before the close..

Wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the day with Palladino excelling with 5-54 in 23 bustling overs for the visitors; Bell-Drummond showing his patience and class by continuing to accumulate runs in an almost-six hour knock as his teammates continued to fall at the other end. 

There was just the one change to the side that had been comprehensively beaten by an innings against Glamorgan at Cardiff with the fit-again Doug Bollinger coming back into the side at the expense of the rested Mitch Claydon.

Rob Key and Bell-Drummond started relatively well, putting on 48 for the first wicket in wonderful batting conditions. The pitch looks rather worn for a first-day wicket, and looks set to offer much for the slow bowlers throughout.

Derbyshire’s slow left-armer David Wainwright was on as early as the 18th over, just over an hour into play, and skipper Key came dancing down the pitch to just his second ball to be stumped for 34.

With Fabian Cowdrey once again included ahead of Sam Northeast, the Kent batting order was revised, with Ben Harmison coming in at three, and Cowdrey at five, either side of Brendan Nash.

Harmison made 17 before he too fell to the spin of Wainwright, edging behind to wicket-keeper Gareth Cross as he looked to come forward to defend.

Kent reached 89-2 at lunch, with Bell-Drummond having actually looked a little scratchy for his 27 at the break. He settled somewhat in the afternoon session as wickets continued to fall at the other end.

Brendan Nash (21) shouldered arms and was bowled, giving Palladino his first wicket, while Cowdrey, in his first home Championship appearance, made 14 before being adjudged lbw to Mark Footitt, despite the fact he looked to have got an edge on the ball first.

Darren Stevens was the next man to join DBD in the middle; the pair seeing the side through tea and looking t0 be putting Kent into a strong position as they added 91 together, continuing into the evening session.

Stevens was looking in fine fettle and had 45 to his name when he was given out caught down the legside off Palladino, another decision that the batsman didn’t look all that happy with; the all-rounder’s wicket the first of four to fall in the final 10 overs of the day, all to the former-Essex seamer.

Bell-Drummond finally reached three figures shortly afterwards, having spent a while in the “nervous nineties”. His cheer and laughter as he pushed a single into the legside to take him to first Championship century could be heard all around the ground as he ran and jumped down the pitch, rightfully celebrating his landmark.

Sam Billings fell without scoring, before Bell-Drummond’s 268-ball stay at the crease was finally ended five overs before the close, as Palladino trapped him lbw, the Lewisham-born youngster enjoying the warm applause from the crowd for his 101 as he left; his knock having included 11 fours.

Adam Riley, promoted to 9 in the absence of Claydon, fell two balls later, also lbw, having hit the only other ball he had faced for 4.

Adam Ball (4*) and Robbie Joseph (8*) were then able to see their side through to stumps without further loss, but it was a day that belonged to Daniel Bell-Drummond, who celebrated what many expect to be the first of many Championship centuries for Kent from him.

 

Stumps, day one: Kent vs. Derbyshire, LV=County Championship Division Two, The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, 22-25 June 2014:

Kent 259-8 (Bell-Drummond 101, Stevens 45; Palladino 5-54) after 96 overs against Derbyshire

 

Kent: Bell-Drummond, Key*, Harmison, Nash, Cowdrey, Stevens, Billings†, Ball, Riley, Joseph, Bollinger

Derbyshire: Moore, Borrington, Madsen*, North, Elstone, Hughes, Cross†, Wainwright, Palladino, Taylor, Footitt

Kent won the toss and elected to bat

Bonus points: Kent 2, Derbyshire 2

 

Full scorecard available here

Picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com