Darren Stevens produced a standout display to help put Kent on top after 19 wickets fell on a thrilling second day at Canterbury.
After Kent were dismissed for 259 inside the first half hour, Stevens led the hosts’ attack claiming 6-47 as Derbyshire were all out for 159 shortly before tea. Wayne Madsen top scored with 56.
Wickets continued to fall as the Derbyshire bowlers responded, claiming seven wickets in the final session to leave Kent on 142-7, a lead of 242 with three wickets left going into Day Three.
Madsen said: “When the bowlers get it in the right areas there’s enough in this pitch to make it difficult to score. Shiv and I tried to bat with intent and hit their bowlers off a length but, even so, you felt there was always a ball with your name on it.
“We’re still disappointed at conceding those first 80 runs in the opening session but we’ve counter-punched well again after tea today. Stevens has great skills as a bowler in these conditions that suit him down to the ground. With the bat, he’s as clean a striker as you’ll see. He’s certainly had a day out today.”
It took just four balls for Derbyshire to get the first breakthrough of the day, as Tony Palladino (1-34) had Adam Rouse lbw for 29.
Matt Coles hit a quick-fire 13 to take his side past 250, before Davis (4-75) claimed the final wicket, his fourth of the innings, to dismiss Kent for 259.
The Derbyshire reply got off to a bad start as both openers fell without scoring inside the first two overs, but the visitors responded through Madsen and Shiv Thakor.
The pair battled through a tricky spell to share an 87-run partnership to move their side from 4-2 to 91-3 when Thakor was third man out. He hit eight fours in his 44.
The wicket, however, signalled the start of a difficult period as Stevens tore through the visitors’ middle order. The medium pace bowler enjoyed a golden spell to claim his third five-wicket haul of the season before ending with figures of 6-47 as Derbyshire were all out for 159.
Madsen top scored with 56 off 95 balls, which included 10 fours and one six, while Jeevan Mendis added 15, Alex Hughes hit 12 and Daryn Smit was out for 11.
It was the Derbyshire bowlers’ turn to enjoy success after tea as wickets continued to fall. Palladino (2-37) started the haul removing Sean Dickson for two in the 11th over, with the hosts 19-1.
Davis (2-21) took two wickets in as many overs to get in on the act, before Tom Milnes (2-33) claimed the wicket of in-form Sam Northeast to leave Kent 49-4.
Palladino claimed the fifth wicket of the innings in the next over, removing Will Gidman for three. It was Palladino’s 250th first-class wicket for Derbyshire in 83 matches, at an average of 27.
Wickets continued to fall as Kent slipped to 111-7, but Stevens batted nicely to complete his half-century off just 46 balls to extend the hosts’ lead.
Adam Rouse (24*), batting at number nine, hit six fours in the final overs of the day before bad light brought an early end to the day, with Kent 142-7 – a lead of 242.
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