Stevens hits quick-fire 50 on day three
Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens hit a 30-ball half-century as Leicestershire’s attack shone with bat and ball on the first full day of action in the Specsavers County Championship at Grace Road.
The 41-year-old smashed nine fours and a six to reach his 75th first class 50 after Kent were reduced to 144-5 in reply to Leicestershire’s 420 all out on day three.
The afternoon session ebbed and flowed as Kent took 4-34 in 13.3 overs before the hosts’ lower order added another 142 runs led by an attacking career-best knock from Clint McKay (66), supported by Tom Wells (46) and Dieter Klein (23).
Matt Hunn picked up three late wickets to mark his return to the side with two each for Stevens and Matt Coles.
Kent’s two veterans struck in the morning session: Stevens trapped Cosgrove LBW before Tredwell bowled Ned Eckersley, swinging wildly through the line.
Colin Ackermann was the mainstay for the hosts until Matt Coles found his outside edge and the gloves of deputy wicketkeeper Daniel Bell-Drummond, substituting for Adam Rouse who left the field with a thumb injury.
James Harris trapped Mark Pettini LBW before tea before debutant Callum Parkinson slashed Hunn to sub fielder Alex Blake at gully.
Wells, Klein and McKay counter-attacked before Hunn struck twice with Wells miscueing to Harris at mid-off and Klein finding the diving Blake at deep mid-wicket before McKay was run out backing up.
In reply, the first five wickets fell to the first ball of an over. Sean Dickson fell LBW in the third over to the left-arm pace of Klein, before the same bowler removed Joe Denly’s off-stump to leave Kent on 25-2 in the seventh over.
Daniel Bell-Drummond (35) played some handsome strokes as he added 57 for the third wicket with skipper Sam Northeast (40) before Wells struck with the first ball of his spell.
Bell-Drummond was trapped LBW by Wells and Klein returned to account for the Kent captain, caught at second slip by his opposite number Mark Cosgrove.
Will Gidman looked set on 24 before he cut into grateful gloves of Ned Eckersley four overs later to leave the evergreen Stevens to continue his India summer with the bat alongside the nuggety Adam Rouse.
The injured wicketkeeper-batsman returned to action with the bat, echoing his brave effort at Glamorgan in 2016 when he batted with a broken and dislocated finger.