Key double ton builds Kent lead
A round-up of the latest matches in the County Championship as Robert Key hits a double hundred and Surrey's Stewart Walters makes the first ton of his career
Cricinfo staff
17-Jul-2009
Stewart Walters jumps for joy after reaching his hundred • PA Photos
Division Two
Robert Key's return to form continued apace as he reached his first Championship double hundred to put Kent in control against Glamorgan at Cardiff with a lead of 127. After the second day was reduced to 20 overs by rain, Key ensured Kent made rapid progress with an imposing, unbeaten 202. Although his first for Kent, Key has a previous double ton for England, against West Indies, in 2004 and this is sort of form that will keep him the selectors' thoughts. He and Geraint Jones added 115 before Jones was caught behind driving then combined in dominant style with Martin van Jaarsveld as the pair put on 180. Key benefited from two dropped catches in the slips - one by Herschelle Gibbs and the other by Michael Powell - as he reached his double from 293 balls. van Jaarsveld fell four short of his hundred but Justin Kemp moved to 53 in an unbroken stand of 102 and Kent will look to add quick runs on the final day then have a crack at Glamorgan.
Less than 27 overs of play were possible because of rain on the third day between Surrey and Essex at Guildford and, during that time, Surrey added 69 runs to their overnight score of 219 for 3. Stewart Walters, acting as captain for the first time, reached his maiden first-class century and remained unbeaten on 111. He was lucky , though, for he had been dropped by Matthew Walker on 90. Usman Afzaal also got to his hundred but he fell on 116, driving a low catch to Varun Chopra at cover, after adding 222 for the fourth wicket. He didn't walk off the field alone for the rain came down and the other players left with him. Surrey, on 288 for 4, still trail by 113 runs in the first-innings and the game is heading towards a draw.
Division One
Rain meant just 9.1 overs were possible at Arundel. with Hampshire progressing to 224 for 2 against Sussex with Michael Lumb moving to 45 John Crawley unbeaten on 20
Click here for John Ward's report from the third day between Nottinghamshire and Durham at Trent Bridge
Click here for George Dobell's report from the third day between Warwickshire and Lancashire at Edgbaston