Coles takes four with new ball as Derbyshire resist on day one
Matt Coles struck four times with the new ball as Derbyshire recovered from a shaky start in the Specsavers County Championship match at Derby.
Wayne Madsen’s century and 50s from Neil Broom and Shiv Thakor frustrated after early in-roads with both new balls at the 3aaa County Ground.
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Coles’ opening burst of 3-9 put Kent in control, reducing the hosts to 35-3 in the 15th over.
As the shine wore off, Derbyshire accelerated the scoring with Madsen’s 20th first-class century for Derbyshire and Neil Broom (96) adding 161 for the fourth wicket.
James Tredwell and Adam Ball eventually removed both men before Claydon struck and Coles (4/75) grabbed a fourth scalp with the second new ball.
Thakor and Tom Taylor shared an unbroken run-a-ball stand of 69 before the close as the hosts aim for maximum batting bonus points.
It had looked so different when Coles got the ball to move sharply during an opening 10 over spell from the Racecourse End that raised doubts over Derbyshire's decision to bat.
Chesney Hughes had come into the game in prime form but his average plummeted to under a hundred when he was trapped lbw without scoring by the 15th ball of the morning.
Hamish Rutherford had made an unbeaten 71 in the T20 Blast victory over Lancashire the previous day but he made only five before he left a ball from Coles and had his off stump knocked back.
Coles was asking questions of all the batsmen and the quality of his bowling was highlighted by Billy Godleman's innings of three from 40 balls before he edged onto his pad and was caught at gully.
At that stage, Derbyshire were in danger of crumbling but Madsen played positively from the start and with Broom, took the initiative away from Kent.
After Coles was withdrawn, batting became considerably easier and by lunch, Madsen and Broom had established a platorm that allowed them to dominate in the afternoon.
Broom, who had flicked Calum Haggett for six over square leg early in his innings, underlined his increasing confidence by lofting James Tredwell over the long on boundary before driving the former England spinner for his first four.
Madsen revealed his pedigree as a former international hockey player with the reverse-sweep that took him to his century but when he tried to dispatch Tredwell over long on, he was well caught by Adam Ball.
But there was no respite for Kent as Broom and Thakor added 85 in 19 overs with Broom moving to within four runs of a century when he was beaten by a full length delivery from Ball and trapped lbw.
Thakor completed his second 50 of the season before Kent struck two quick blows as Tom Poynton edged a drive at Mitch Claydon and Matt Critchley played across the line at Coles but by now the balance had shifted towards Derbyshire.