Madsen and Khawaja tons put Derbyshire on top

Derbyshire 370 for 3 v Kent
Scorecard

Centuries from Wayne Madsen and Australian Test prospect Usman Khawaja ensured Derbyshire dominated proceedings on the first day of their County Championship Division Two clash with Kent.

After winning the toss in ideal conditions in Canterbury, Derbyshire piled on the runs to go into stumps on 370 for 3 as Kent's injury-hit attack struggled for wickets. An opening stand of 96 between Madsen and Chesney Hughes laid the foundations for Derbyshire's impressive first-day total as Kent virtually wasted the new ball with wayward stints from Matt Coles and Ashley Shaw.

Tall and elegant in his strokeplay, Hughes played the first-session lead in posting seven fours in a cameo 76-ball half-century full of firm front-foot drives. The right-hander looked destined for three figures until he took one chance too many against James Tredwell's offspin. In aiming to lap-sweep the England player's fourth ball of the day on 57, Hughes top-edged and Martin van Jaarsveld ran around from slip toward gully to claim the catch.

Derbyshire went in at lunch sitting comfortably on 103 for 1 and Kent, without three first-choice bowlers through injury, had little else to offer as the visitors added 231 for the second wicket - a county record against Kent.

Madsen strolled to his ninth hundred in 31 games for Derbyshire in 187 balls while Khawaja hit his first century for the east midlands outfit from 141 balls and with 13 boundaries. It is the Australian's final game for the county as he has to leave for squad training ahead of Australia A's tour of Zimbabwe next month.

The stand ended when Madsen, off balance and seemingly tired, played a care-free shot across the line to Azhar Mahmood to go lbw. Some 43 runs on, Khawaja undid all his good work to go for 135 from 208 balls. Having hit 16 boundaries the left-hander aimed to drive at Kent rookie left-armer Shaw and only succeeded in nicking to slip where Van Jaarsveld dived to his left to pocket a sublime chance. It was Shaw's maiden championship wicket for Kent.

It proved to be Kent's last success of the day however, as Dan Redfern (18) and nightwatchman Tony Palladino survived through until stumps to take the visitors into day two in total command. Mahmood, Tredwell and Shaw all finished with one wicket apiece for a Kent attack that used six bowlers and who go into the second day severely under the cosh.