LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Canterbury:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Kent 424, Durham 347-6
Kent 7pts, Durham 6pts
Match scorecard

Benkenstein had already hit two first-class 50's for Durham this season

Dale Benkenstein hit his first century of the season to help Durham frustrate hosts Kent on day two at Canterbury.

Benkenstein came to the crease with his side in trouble on 26-2 in reply to Kent's 424, but was eventually out for 114 as the visitors closed on 347-6.

Ben Stokes also impressed for Durham, ending on an unbeaten 122, which included 15 fours and two sixes.

South Africa international Makhaya Ntini was the pick of Kent's bowling attack, ending the day with 3-58.

Benkenstein and Stokes hit contrasting centuries, with the former South Africa one-day international taking almost four hours to reach treble figures.

But Stokes took a lot less time to grab his ton, which came off just 119 balls and included 12 boundaries plus his two maximums.

Kent will feel frustrated not to have built on their good work in the first session, with Ntini, Azhar Mahmood and Amjad Khan bowling intelligently to limit the visitors to just 67 runs in 28 overs.

But a third-wicket stand of 118 in 31 overs between Michael Di Venuto and Benkenstein allowed Durham to build a decent score after lunch and leave them with the chance of taking a first innings lead.

Kent coach Paul Farbrace told BBC Radio Kent:
"I thought our main three bowlers bowled magnificently - all of them keeping the run rate down. The first session was a brilliant effort, unfortunately the middle session it went a bit flat and the ball got a bit soft and they got away and played well.

"Benkenstein played brilliantly and the young lad Stokes - his 120 has been a magnificent innings so far. So sometimes you have to give credit to the batsmen and I think the boys stuck at the job well.

"Our fielding on the whole was pretty good but unfortunately we dropped two chances but they didn't prove to be too costly. But I'd like to be in our position more than theirs."

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