LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
Close, day two: Kent 202, Northants 429-7
Northants 6pts, Kent 3pts
Match scorecard

Northants skipper Andrew Hall struck a magnificent ton to put Kent to the sword on day two at Wantage Road.

Former South Africa Test all-rounder Hall's superb knock of 141 not out off 279 balls was the 11th century of his first-class career.

He shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 114 with wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien, who blasted 71 off 101 balls.

Having begun the day on 86-3, that helped Northants build a lead of 227 as they finished the day on 429-7.

Coming in at six with his side in potential trouble on 96-4, Hall soon lost David Sales as Northants slid to 124-5.

But the former Kent man then shared important stands with O'Brien, 77 for the seventh wicket with Chaminda Vaas (27), and a so far unbroken 114 for the eighth wicket with James Middlebrook.

It is the second time in a week that Hall and Middlebrook have put together a century stand, having shared a county record 179, also for the eighth wicket, in the drawn game against Surrey.

BBC Radio Kent's Ben Croucher:
"If day one for Kent was dismal, day two could be described as downright disastrous for Rob Key's men.

"Their bowling unit looked absent of invention and ideas throughout the day, with the ball hardly swinging and the pitch getting better to bat on. Kent had to do without Darren Stevens' services throughout the afternoon and quite simply didn't bowl enough wicket-taking deliveries.

"Take nothing away from Northants though. They batted extremely sensibly and didn't offer Kent a glimmer of hope all day. Their success came in putting strong partnerships together, all centred around Hall's impeccable and chanceless century.

"Northants failed to give Kent even a half chance on day two, and while Kent's batsmen could be found guilty of getting themselves out, their bowlers were forced to fight for every wicket."

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