Kent lead by 242 runs after see-saw day 2

Darren Stevens shone with bat and ball in a topsy-turvy day two of the Specsavers County Championship match at The Spitfire Ground.

The 40-year-old picked up his third five-wicket haul in as many matches: the 15th of his first-class career, all achieved after turning 35 before firing a brisk half-century to help Kent to a lead of 242 at stumps.

Resuming on 238 for eight, Kent added 11 runs to their total and picked up a second batting bonus point as Adam Rouse and Matt Coles departed, leaving James Harris unbeaten on 27.

In reply, Derbyshire recovered from losing both openers to the new-ball pair of Wayne Parnell and Stevens: Luis Reece castled by the South African before Billy Godleman nicked the veteran all-rounder to Will Gidman at slip.

Shiv Thakor (44) and Wayne Madsen (56) rebuilt before the visitors lost eight mid-session wickets for 78 runs to concede a 100-run first innings lead.

Resuming after lunch on 83 for two, the visitors succumbed for 159 inside a further 24 overs as the home attack found good lengths to extract some seam movement as well as late swing in the overcast conditions.

Parnell bowled with pace and aggression from the Nackington Road end and was rewarded with the prized wicket of Madsen as Stevens wreaked havoc from the Pavilion end.

Thakor nibbled at one and was caught at slip by Coles before Smit, Madsen and Wilson departed in quick succession. Stevens finished with figures of 6/47 and is now the second highest wicket-taker in county cricket this year with 19 victims.

Coles and Harris mopped up the tail before Kent started their second innings shortly before tea.

Dickson was trapped LBW to the probing Tony Palladino before a burst from the livewire Will Davis accounted for Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly.

The seamers were firmly on top with helpful overhead conditions and skipper Sam Northeast was next out, nicking Tom Milnes to Daryn Smit at slip before Gidman was caught behind off Palladino to leave the hosts languishing on 51 for five.

Darren Stevens and Wayne Parnell counter-attacked with Stevens smashing 11 boundaries on his way to a 45-ball half-century, the 74th of his red-ball career as the South African was bowled by Milnes.

Stevens farmed the strike well to add 31 with Coles, before the aggressive left-hander was adjudged caught in the deep by Godleman off Luis Reece.

Arriving at 111-7 with a 211-run lead, wicketkeeper-batsman Rouse hit five fours including four in a row off Alex Hughes to end unbeaten on 24 as bad light brought a tumultuous day to close.

Stevens will resume on 53 with Kent aiming for a 300-run lead before pushing for a third successive win to start the season.