Key century leads Kent to safety against Derbyshire

Derbyshire v Kent LV County Championship Division 2, Day four, Derby.
By Mark Pennell
KENT look set to bat their way to a deserved draw in Derbyshire where bad light took the sides into an early tea break at 2.50pm with the visitors sitting pretty on 257 for two, a match deficit of only 35 with one session of the game remaining.
Visiting skipper Rob Key led the rearguard action with an unbeaten 125, while Martin van Jaarsveld kept him company with a solid 61 as the pair added an unbroken stand of 128 in 32 overs for the third wicket.
Key posted his second ton of the summer against Derbyshire and his fourth in all from 169 balls and with 10 fours having been given one life when on 77 when skipper Chris Rogers downed a tough, low chance at slip off spinner Greg Smith.
Kent“s only casualty of the day came after 42 overs, the 28th of the day when Geraint Jones fell for a stylish, counter-attacking 60 from 126 balls for his part in a second wicket stand of 133 in 39 overs.
The former England gloveman reached a fine 50 with a straight six off Graham Wagg as he had done in the first innings on his way to a century.
This time Jones posted his 50 from 96 balls, 42 runs came in boundaries, the rest made up from nine singles as he and Key looked in little or no trouble.
The introduction of part-time spinner Smith made the difference, however, as he got one to bounce and take the top of the bat for Wayne Madsen to take a smart catch at short leg and make it 139 for two.