Darren Stevens took the plaudits once again for Kent after another bowling master-class at The Nevill Ground put Kent in a strong position at the end of day two amassing a lead of 321 runs.

Stevens took 5/40, his sixteenth first class career five-for – All achieved since turning thirty-five – and his fourth this season at an average of just over twelve.

Underpinning Stevens’ and his sides efforts in the field Kent opening pair Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sean Dickson further stamped the home sides authority on the game to see out the final session of thirty-five over’s closing the day 116/0 (Bell-Drummond 68*, Dickson 42*).

Sussex ended the day as the began it, in the field, as Kent put their visitors to the sword in bowling them out before tea, and although leading by just over two-hundred, Sam Northeast chose not to follow-on and instead amass an unassailable lead.

The hosts’ key aim at the start of play was undoubtedly to reach three-fifty and the fourth batting point with Adam Rouse underpinning that view striking three glorious and well-timed fours through the off-side in the opening over however ending it trapped in his crease and out leg-before to Vernon Philander. The ball looked a little high but Rouse (44) had to go (330/9) – Rouse’s contribution coming with ten fours.

The final pair of James Tredwell and Matt Coles achieved Kent’s aim as the former despatched a no-ball for four to bring up the much sought after batting point as they put on a healthy final wicket partnership of thirty-nine in seven overs.

However having seen off the Sussex opening bowling pair of Vernon Philander and Jofra Archer Tredwell (18) lost his wicket to Chris Jordan and with it the innings came to a close. Kent amassing 369 (Coles 15*).

Looking to make early inroads into the Sussex top-order James Harris was given the new-ball. Chris Nash loftily played Harris’ opening out-swinging delivery for four but the opener couldn’t deal with the subsequent in-swinger as Harris found the gap clean-bowling the Sussex man – Nash out for four and the visitors 4/1.

In came in-form Luke Wells fresh from posting his highest score (258) during their last outing against Durham and he carried on as he left off stroking the ball freely around the ground posting quick runs for the visitors – Nash perhaps feeling aggrieved getting out so early.

However it wasn’t to last as that man Stevens struck combining with Matt Coles and Wells was out for 25 leaving Sussex 37/2.

New-man Stiaan van Zyl offered a well-hit shot to Coles for a caught and bowled chance and although the Kent man got a hand to it, it didn’t stick – Such a well-hit shot it was always a difficult one to take – and Coles left the field at the end of his over to have the injury tended to, returning at the end of another tight Stevens over which brought more success to the home side…

Stevens typically bowling tight and giving little away trapped Harry Finch (5) leg-before and Sussex were now 46/3 with an interesting period of play leading up to the lunch interval on offer.

And with lunch near Sussex lost their fourth wicket of the morning as Tredwell took a stunning catch off the edge of Luke Wright’s (12) bat and Coles opened his account for the innings in his one-hundredth first class appearance – Sussex 69/4 as the Kent score was beginning to look better-still.

Sussex saw through to lunch without the further loss of wickets to end an excellent opening day-two session for the hosts. Having begun the day 316/8 they rallied past the additional bonus-point ending all-out for 369 then reducing Sussex to 78/4, trailing by 291 runs.

Not long into the afternoon session, the sun beating down, Stevens inflicted further woe to the Sussex side sending the stumps crashing in all directions bowling Burgess (22) and trapping new man Chris Jordan leg-before for a duck – Sussex teetering on 100/6 and still trailing Kent’s first innings total by 269 runs.

And midway through the afternoon Stevens grabbed a third for the session and a fourth five-for for the season to boot as van Zyl (31) played a forward defensive stroke but the ball found the gap between bat and pad removing the batsman’s leg-stump – Sussex 109/7.

Having opened the bowling, albeit with a break for lunch, Stevens took a rest from the attack with figures of 17-7-40-5, Sussex 124/7.

Having stemmed the loss of wickets since lunch Sussex consolidated with Weiss and Philander and the former (19*) was somewhat fortunate in the run-up to the tea-break edging behind but Adam Rouse, diving low to his right and in front of first slip, was unable to trap the ball in his glove to take the catch – Sussex 140/7 (Philander 14*) – Coles kicking the floor in frustration.

With tea approaching Kent rattled through the remaining Sussex batsmen/tail to finish off the visitors to take a substantial first innings lead.

Coles released his earlier frustration taking a good, low catch off the bowling of Tredwell and Vernon Philander’s (20) resolve was ended, Sussex 164/8 (Weiss 35*) and Harris, who had started proceedings with the opening wicket, ended the Sussex effort with two wickets in two balls.

Weiss (36) was the ninth to fall (164/9) after excellent work by Sean Dickson on the boundary. With the ball heading over the boundary rope Dickson had the awareness to parry the ball into the air whilst his momentum took him over the rope, to return to the field and take the still airborne ball.

Having crossed-over Archer (0) faced Harris next ball but was beaten all-ends-up and clean-bowled, Sussex all-out 164, trailing by 205 runs.

With the tea-break taken talk of the follow-on was rife however Sam Northeast quickly elected for the hosts to take on the batting, perhaps giving his players a rest from being out in the sunshine, to add sufficient runs and accumulate an unassailable target.

Bell-Drummond and Dickson led the task to enhance their lead with thirty-five over’s left in the day with two more days to follow – By the end of day two Kent could easily have a led in excess of three-hundred.

The pair were solid in their quest and unlike the first innings on day-one were able to find runs more easily. Sussex, looking to make early inroads, used the breadth of their bowling attack rather than substantial spells by Philander and Archer, but Kent had moved on well to 34/0 (Bell-Drummond 24*, Dickson 10*) shortly after the opening ten over mark – Extending the lead to 239 runs.

Bell-Drummond with two fours in the region of third-man followed by an easy single brought about a lead of two-fifty (45/0; Bell-Drummond 33*, Dickson 12*) soon driving through mid-on to bring up Kent’s fifty in their second innings (53/0, Bell-Drummond 41*, Dickson 12*).

Bell-Drummond (53*) brought about his fifth half-century of the season, twenty-first of his career, guiding a loose chest-high leg-side delivery by Jordan for four (56b, 10×4) as Kent moved on to 72/0 (Dickson 19*) extending their lead to 277 runs.

The opening pair, looking untroubled, moved the score along steadily with no need to take unnecessary risks extending the lead beyond three-hundred (95/0, Bell-Drummond 61*, Dickson 32*) and then shared in a century stand (102/0; Bell-Drummond 64*, Dickson 32*) to then ably see out the session unscathed with the score 116/0 (Bell-Drummond 68*, Dickson 42*), leading by 321 runs.

Kent’s herculean effort on day two at a ground renowned for assisting the batsmen pushing on early with the bat and an excellent bowling and fielding display to bowl out their hosts cheaply, added to that the excellent start to their second innings, puts the home side in pole position with two days play remaining.

Kent will be looking for a declaration early on day three to give sufficient over’s and sessions and add to the list of wins already registered this season and keep the pressure on league leaders Nottinghamshire.

Kent’s Darren Stevens said: “It felt good bowling with the breeze at my back for a change. I usually bowl at the bottom end here [Railway End], but Sam Northeast gave me the choice and it worked well. The ball has been coming out well all year so I’ve not had to change anything from pre-season.

“It’s all about beating the bat by putting the ball in the areas you want. We have game plans to every player we play against and I find it satisfying when those plans come off.

“I’d got 17 overs in my legs, but when we came off at tea I thought we maybe should have put them in again. We had a 200-run lead and they were on the back foot, but they had a big game against Durham that only ended Tuesday and we’re making them spend more time in the field. So let’s put 450 on the board and go back at them again.”

 

Kent 369ao (Denly 119) & 116/0 (Bell-Drummond 68*)

Sussex 164 (Stevens 5/40)

Kent won the toss and elected to bat first

Kent lead by 321 runs with ten second innings wickets remaining