COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Uxbridge:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Kent 652-7 dec Middlesex 109-4 (Kent 6pts, Middlesex 1pt)
9-12 September 2009

Kent batsman Stevens also made 208 against Glamorgan in 2005

Darren Stevens equalled his career-best 208 and Justin Kemp hit an unbeaten 138 as Kent batted themselves into a strong position against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

The pair resumed day two on 390-4 and extended their fifth-wicket partnership to 228 - a record against Middlesex.

Kent eventually declared their first innings on 652-7, the second highest first-class total in their history.

Middlesex were in trouble at 109-4 in reply at the close, needing a further 394 to avoid the follow-on.

Openers Nick Compton and Adam London got the home side through to tea without losing a wicket following Kent captain Rob Key's declaration in mid-afternoon.

But James Tredwell needed only two balls of the resumption to make the breakthrough, trapping London leg before for his 61st Championship wicket of the season.

Compton then lost his off-stump playing down the wrong line to Mahmood, who then trapped Dan Housego leg before after Tredwell had also pinned Dawid Malan in front.

Neil Dexter and John Simpson saw Middlesex through to the close without further loss. But they face a massive task to save the game after the efforts of Stevens and Kemp.

Stevens had resumed on 129 not out and drew level with the 208 he hit against Glamorgan in 2005 before he chopped Malan on his stumps to end a fifth-wicket stand which eclipsed the 169 shared by Brian Luckhurst and Asif Iqbal at Canterbury in 1971.

His innings, which included 34 boundaries, lasted 255 balls.

Kemp brought up his second hundred of the season by pulling Malan for six over midwicket, and also hit 18 fours in his 201-ball innings.

It helped Kent pile up their highest total against Middlesex and the biggest score made at the Park Road ground.

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