LV=CC: Stevens hits another ton as Kent impress at Chelmsford

LV County Championship Division One
Essex v Kent
Chelmsford
10-13 May 2010

Kent 474 all out, 119.2 overs
Jones 135, Stevens 100, Northeast 65
ten Doeschate 4-77, Kaneria 2-124

Essex 172 for 4, 61.4 overs
Westley 84*, Godleman 45, Foster 17*
Mahmood 2-27, Cook 1-35, Ntini 1-35

Kent“s cricketers have put themselves in a good position at the halfway stage of their LV= County Championship match with Essex. A century from Darren Stevens (pictured) and 64 from Azhar Mahmood helped them score an impressive 474 at Chelmsford.

Batting positively in the sunshine, the all-rounder“s put on 134 for the seventh wicket as Kent registered maximum batting points for the first time this season. Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate was the pick of the Essex attack, returning figures of four for 77.

Mahmood then got to work with the ball, taking two wickets, but it was his new-ball partner, Makhaya Ntini, who picked up the prized wicket. Alastair Cook’s run of poor form continued when he was dismissed for a first ball duck.

Former Middlesex opener Billy Godleman hit 45 but it was another youngster who stole the limelight. 21-year-old Tom Westley confirmed his ability with 84 and shared in a stand of 76 with Godleman, the best of the innings so far. Essex will resume on 172 for 4 – still 302 runs behind.