Rogers' double gives Derbyshire massive lead

Kent 281 (G Jones 108, Blake 44, S Jones 5-35) and 44 for 1 trail Derbyshire 583 for 4 (Rogers 208, Park 178*, Smith 59, Khan 4-110) by 258 runs
Scorecard

A double hundred from the captain Chris Rogers coupled with a maiden century for the club by former Durham right-hander Garry Park eased Derbyshire to their highest score of the summer and their best-ever total against Kent at a blustery Old Racecourse Ground.

Without five potential first-choice seamers Kent, the Division Two leaders, suffered an abysmal time in the field for the second successive day as the hosts rattled along at 4.40 runs an over to post 583 for 4 declared for a first-innings lead of 302. Rogers top-scored with an impressive 208 from 274 balls in a shade over five-and-a-half hours with more than half his runs coming in boundaries as Kent's threadbare attack served up a series of long-hops and half-volleys.

Rogers' fun finally ended in the middle-session when Amjad Khan snagged him leg-before with the first ball of a new spell from the Old Grandstand End; a full-length off-cutter caught Rogers pushing from the crease to end a second-wicket stand with Park that added 125 in 28 overs. Rogers also featured in an opening stand worth 216 in 62 overs with Wayne Madsen (75), taking the pair into the top 10 for all-time opening stands in championship cricket for the county.

Madsen's contribution to the cause ended 10 overs into the day when he edged a leg-cutter to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones from Khan's third ball of the day. In the absence of Wayne Parnell, Azhar Mahmood, Martin Saggers, Robbie Joseph and Ryan McLaren, Kent captain Rob Key found it nigh on impossible to create pressure or contain the run-rate as his attack managed a paltry 15 maidens in Derbyshire's entire 132-over innings.

After tea Khan bagged another couple of wickets, having Greg Smith (59) caught off a skier at point after a 78-ball 50, then Wavell Hinds (18) toe-ended his pull off a Khan bouncer to pick out Justin Kemp at mid-on to give Khan, Kent's sole wicket-taker, figures of 4 for 110.

Park went to his maiden century for Derbyshire from 170 balls with 12 fours and then moved through the gears to race to 150 from only 209 balls. He and John Sadler (24*) added exactly 100 for the fifth wicket in 10 overs before Rogers declared just before 5pm with Park unbeaten on a career-best 178.

In the 14 overs remaining in the day Kent lost Sam Northeast (6) when he cut a wide one from Tom Lumley straight to Greg Smith at gully but Rob Key (17*) and Geraint Jones (15*) survived to see their side safely through to stumps on 44 for 1 - they require a further 258 to make Derbyshire bat again.