COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Derby:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Kent 232-5 (Derbys 1pt, Kent 1pt)
2-5 September 2009

Jones struck 12 fours and one six in his unbeaten 107

Kent's Geraint Jones passed 1,000 Championship runs for the season as his fifth century of the summer defied promotion rivals Derbyshire.

After the visitors were asked to bat at Derby, Steffan Jones (3-29) struck twice to help reduce them to 68-3.

Wicketkeeper Jones then shared 53 with Darren Stevens until two quick wickets again had them in trouble at 158-5.

But Jones (107no) helped Alex Blake (30no) take the score to 232-5 before rain prevented any more play after tea.

Earlier, youngster Sam Northeast had been first to go on 34 when he skied an attempted to pull to square leg to give Tom Lungley his first victim since returning to Derby form his month's loan with Lancashire.

Five overs later, on-loan paceman Jones picked up the prized wicket of Rob Key (30) when the Kent captain missed a slower ball to be trapped lbw. And, when Martin van Jaarsveld pulled to deep midwicket, the home side went to lunch in control.

Former England international Jones and Stevens combined to take the score to 121.

When Stevens and Justin Kemp both went, the visitors' comeback looked to have been extinguished.

But the Kent gloveman found a willing ally in Blake, reaching his century from 152 balls before the weather closed in.

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