Old dog Stevens refuses to go quietly

Kent 389 for 7 (Stevens 107*, Denly 74, Northeast 56) v EssexScorecard

Kent beneficiary Darren Stevens hit an unbeaten century in what could transpire to be his final game for the county as the hosts posted 389 for 7 on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship clash with Essex.

After a first day wash-out and an uncontested toss, the 40-year-old all-rounder – whose contract expires at the end of the match – hit a typically belligerent unbeaten 107 to give his side the edge in this contest between the top two sides in the second tier.

Sam Northeast and Joe Denly also posted half-centuries as the hosts racked up four batting bonus points, leaving them to secure one more point from this final-round game in order to clinch second place, and with it the ECB’s prize money of almost £57,000.

Batting first on a pitch that spent much of Tuesday morning under wraps, Kent lost their first wicket after an hour’s play but only three overs after umpires Russ Evans and Graham Lloyd had changed the misshapen original ball.

Having hit seven fours in an attractive 32, Daniel Bell-Drummond threw all but the kitchen …

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