Luis Reece and Will Davis both claimed three apiece as Derbyshire took eight Kent wickets on Day One of the Specsavers County Championship match at The Spitfire Ground.
Davis (3-59) claimed three in the morning session as part of spell in which four Kent wickets fell in 15 balls, to reduce the hosts from 83-0 to 91-4 at lunch.
Reece, who claimed his first wickets for the Club, also returned three wickets as regular wickets fell in the afternoon, before bad light cut short the first day in the final session with the hosts 238-8.
Billy Godleman said: “After electing to bowl first we would have wanted to have put the ball around the off or fourth stump area a lot more than we did in that first hour, but we showed great fight and courage to go again thereafter.
“We reassessed our position and went back to the plans we’d talked about before the start and to everyone’s credit we fought back. We fielded well, threw ourselves around and took good catches because we were clear that every run on this wicket and in these overcast conditions may well be vital.”
Tom Milnes and Davis, fresh from his six wickets in the season opener, took the new ball for Derbyshire who elected to bowl first.
Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sean Dickson put on 83 runs for the opening wicket before four wickets in 15 balls turned the session on its head. Will Davis got two in as many deliveries, first Dickson caught behind by Gary Wilson for 41 and then the next man in, Joe Denly, lbw first ball.
Sam Northeast defended the hat-trick ball but in the following over Reece claimed his first wicket for Derbyshire, Daryn Smit taking an excellent catch low to his left at second slip to remove Bell Drummond for 38.
Davis had his third and Derbyshire’s fourth the next over, Will Gidman out lbw without scoring, reducing Kent to 91-4 at lunch.
Milnes removed the in-form Darren Stevens (17) shortly after the interval with an in-swinging delivery which drew the leading edge returning a straightforward catch to the bowler.
Northeast and Wayne Parnell stabilised the innings, adding 48 for the sixth wicket before Reece, brought back into the attack, had Northeast caught behind by Wilson, the Kent captain out for 32.
Reece had his third before the tea interval, Parnell caught by Alex Hughes at third slip for 41. Jeevan Mendis picked up a wicket in his first over of the innings, fellow spinner James Tredwell out lbw for seven.
After the tea interval Adam Rouse and James Harris batted carefully, adding 35 runs, before the final session was cut short by bad light, Derbyshire two wickets away from closing Kent’s first innings.
Click HERE to view the scorecard.
Join your county cricket club. The Club has reduced its price and simplified its categories to offer one single Club Membership at only £159. Buy today and enjoy a great summer.
