LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Chelmsford:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Kent 355-6
Essex 2pts, Kent 4pts
Match scorecard

Jones has played 34 Tests and 49 one-day internationals for England

Geraint Jones hit a century to give Kent the advantage over Essex on day one at Chelmsford.

After the visitors lost openers Joe Denly and Rob Key cheaply, Jones shared stands of 137 with Martin van Jaarsveld (51) and 54 with Sam Northeast (65).

The wicketkeeper's 135 came from 177 balls, with 21 fours.

Darren Stevens's unbeaten 57 then took Kent to 355-6 at the close, with all of the six bowlers used by Essex picking up a wicket each.

After Kent won the toss, Denly was caught behind off Chris Wright in the second over of the day to bring Jones to the crease.

He added 52 for the second wicket with Key, but the Kent captain had scored just seven when he was caught at gully by Ryan ten Doeschate off the bowling of David Masters.

Jones and van Jaarsveld then took advantage of some wayward bowling and when they departed, to Tom Westley and ten Doeschate respectively, Northeast impressed with his 70 delivery half-century.

The youngster was stumped by James Foster off Tim Phillips and James Hockley was bowled by Danish Kaneria soon after, but this was to be Essex's final success of the day.

Stevens, who was dropped at slip by Alastair Cook off Kaneria, hit seven fours and a six in his 91-ball effort to ram home Kent's advantage.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version