Powell puts Kent in charge

Friday 13th April 2012

Mike Powell scored his first century in the LV= County Championship for three years as Kent took control on the second day of their match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

In just his second game since his move from Glamorgan, Powell piled on an unbeaten 128 off 227 balls, including 19 fours, as Kent were bowled out for 368.

Jack Brooks was by far the most effective bowler in taking five for 98 before Northants struggled in reply to close on 50 for four, 186 runs behind the visitors.

Kent began the day on 127 for three, just five runs behind their opponents, with West Indies star Brendan Nash resuming on 40 and night-watchman Mark Davies on two. But Davies was to depart with just the third ball of the day when he pushed Brooks out to cover, only for David Willey to throw a direct hit to the stumps at the bowler's end.

Nash, who also failed to add to his overnight total, followed him in the final ball of the first over when Brooks took out his middle and leg stumps. Darren Stevens made just eight before he was pinned lbw by former Sri Lanka seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Powell, however, was to race to a half-century off 77 balls and he went on to complete his 26th first-class ton – and his first since July 2009, for Glamorgan against Essex – off his 173rd delivery.

Former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones then patiently went past 50 off 135 deliveries before he departed on 53 when bowled by Willey to end a magnificent partnership of 165 with Powell.

In the fifth over of the evening, Brooks bowled England spinner James Tredwell (10) before Matt Coles (17) was stumped by Northants and Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien off James Middlebrook. Charlie Shreck then made just a single before he presented Brooks with the fourth five-wicket haul of his career when he allowed a straight delivery to clatter into his stumps.

In reply, Northants were to lose opener Stephen Peters for just a single in the fourth over when he edged Shreck to Tredwell at second slip.

Rob Newton (nine) then fell victim to Coles when he was superbly caught by a diving Jones before the same bowler trapped Kyle Coetzer (one) lbw four balls later. Alex Wakely (three) then threw his wicket away by chipping Shreck to Kent captain Rob Key at mid-on, leaving his team in a desperate position going into the third day.

Click here for the scorecard