Shiv Thakor and Tom Taylor both made their highest Specsavers County Championship scores of 130 and 80 respectively, but rain cut short Day Two versus Kent.
The pair achieved the highest eighth-wicket partnership for Derbyshire against Kent in first-class cricket, putting on 150, with Thakor hitting his first century for the county and Taylor his first half-century.
Kent made a steady start to their reply, reaching 79-1 with Ben Cotton picking up the only wicket for the hosts, but a heavy rain shower meant that only four overs were possible in the evening session.
Having played supremely the previous evening, Thakor and Taylor continued their dominance over the Kent bowlers throughout the first hour of the second day.
Taylor was matching Thakor in terms of run-scoring for much of the morning and the 21-year-old got through to his first half-century in first-class cricket from just 60 balls, surpassing his previous best of 49.
Shortly after, Thakor was able to reach his first century for Derbyshire. His hundred came up in good time, taking only 120 balls, as Thakor and Taylor ensured that the hosts picked up maximum batting bonus points for the first time this season.
The pair continued to score quickly, with Taylor regularly finding the rope behind square on the off-side and Thakor displaying his impressive array of shots.
Their partnership was to end on 150 though, the highest for the eighth wicket versus Kent for Derbyshire in first-class cricket. Taylor was the man to go, chipping to cover for a career-best 80.
Thakor went past his previous high-score in Championship cricket of 114, also against Kent for Leicestershire in 2013, but could not achieve his highest score in first-class cricket as he fell on 130, four runs short of his previous best.
Tony Palladino was the final wicket to go down as he was bowled by Matt Coles (5-116) but by that time Derbyshire had scored 492 runs and were in a commanding position at lunch.
Kent began their first innings after lunch and suffered an early blow as the in-form Daniel Bell-Drummond was out for four. Cotton got one to nip back at him which he edged for Tom Poynton to take a superb catch diving to his right.
And here's that catch. Great grab by Tom Poynton off @Cotts1993 to remove Bell-Drummond for four ?? #DERvKEN https://t.co/CqOJK6Rs69
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) May 23, 2016
That was, however, to be the only Kent wicket on Day Two despite the pressure created by the hosts’s disciplined bowling. Joe Denly and Sean Dickson played reservedly to ensure that they reached tea on 70-1.
There would only be a further four over after tea as a sudden sharp rain shower arrived in Derby and lasted for almost an hour. The umpires concluded that there could be no more play on the day at 5.20pm due to a severely wet outfield.
Kent will resume tomorrow morning on 79-1, still trailing Derbyshire by 413 runs.
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