Rogers century frustrates Kent attack on day three at St Lawrence

Kent v Derbyshire LV County Championship Division 2, day three Canterbury.
By Mark Pennell
Derbyshire skipper Chris Rogers hit his second hundred this summer to extend his side“s lead to 250 going into the final day of the potential second division title-decider in Canterbury.
The visitors went in at stumps sitting pretty on 236 for four with Wavell Hinds (16) and Greg Smith (18) both unbeaten, ensuring Derbyshire should at least travel home with a draw barring any dramatic last-day collapses.
Batting again after having secured a slender first innings lead of 14, the East Midlands side posted 60 for their first wicket through openers Rogers and Wayne Madsen (19) before Madsen fell in unfortunate circumstances.
Backing up to a straight drive by Rogers, Madsen was out of his ground when bowler Ryan McLaren finger-tipped the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker“s end.
After tea Garry Park“s demise to James Tredwell ended a second-wicket stand worth 119 in 31 overs after Park, across his stumps and working to leg, went leg before for 53 from 94 balls.
Rogers marched to his hundred from 177 balls and with 13 fours but finally his concentration snapped to leave the door partially ajar for Rob Key“s side.
Kent“s slim chances of forcing result increased slightly when they took two more wickets in successive overs; Tredwell had Rogers stumped by Geraint Jones for 107 when he advanced down the track aiming a lofted drive to make it 202 for three.
Then, without addition to the total, Daniel Redfern (13) skied an attempted hook against Simon Hook to be well held by Justin Kemp running back at slip.
Kent had started a sunny morning by completing their first innings, having resumed on their overnight score of 249 for eight and in pursuit of Derbyshire“s total of 303.
James Tredwell and Simon Cook continued their ninth-wicket stand for another 75 minutes in taking the partnership to 86 in 31 overs before Cook (34) pulled a short ball from Tim Groenewald to deep square leg where Daniel Redfern retained his balance superbly near the ropes to an over-head catch that made it 287 for nine.
Two runs later, Kent“s last man Amjad Khan (1) was struck on the boot by a Greg Smith Yorker to go leg before and leave Tredwell unbeaten on 86 from 204 balls and with 11 fours – his season“s best.
Painfully, Kent finished 11 short of a third batting bonus point and were only 14 short of equalling Derbyshire“s first innings effort while Graham Wagg failed to add to his second day tally of five for 96.

Photo by ARPics