Durham: 575; Kent: 169 for 2

CAPTAIN Rob Key and his predecessor David Fulton were Kent’s casualties as the county made a faltering start in their reply to Durham’s massive first innings total of 575 in chilly Canterbury.

The home openers both made starts, but ultimately perished to similar, full-length deliveries and catches to Durham’s player-of-the-day wicketkeeper-batsman Phil Mustard.

By the close and the mid-point of this opening Liverpool Victoria Championship match of the year, Kent had reached 169 for two to trail by 406 overnight.

Key was first to go for 23 and with 60 on the board, pushing half-forward he edged an excellent leg-cutter from Neil Killeen to the keeper then, after a stoic 200 minute 62, Fulton went back to a similar delivery from Dale Benkenstein to give Mustard another victim.

Matters worsened when Martin van Jaarsveld, on 32, was forced to retire hurt with cramp in his left hamstring 40 minutes from the close.

Matthew Walker (10) and Darren Stevens (22) were the not out batsmen having added 32 so far for the third wicket, but much more will be needed from them on day three if Kent are to avoid the follow-on.

The day had started with Kent in the field and under the cosh as Durham resumed on their overnight score of 401 for five.

Much rested on how well Kent used the second new ball and, sad to report, their three-pronged pace attack of Amjad Khan, Robbie Joseph and Simon Cook made little or no impact.

Gordon Muchall posted the first championship double century of his career from 308 balls and with 32 fours and a six, while Mustard sailed past his previous best of 80 to reach three figures for the first time from 198 balls and with 14 fours and a brace of sixes.

They posted a Durham sixth wicket record stand of 249 in 58 overs before Muchall finally perished for 219, flat-batting a Neil Dexter long-hop to Rob Key diving to his left at extra cover.

Then, with his score on 130, Mustard chased a Robbie Joseph wide to edge to second slip.

Kent missed out on their third bowling bonus point as Durham batted on beyond 130 overs to reach 575 all out, their best ever total in Division 1 and their third best since joining the first-class ranks in 1992.

Kent’s bowling figures made for dreadful reading, Patel easily the pick with four for 100 being easily the pick, but Khan with just two maidens in his 32 wicketless overs was just as readily the biggest disappointment.

Robbie Joseph benefited from some loose shots to pick up three for 124, but both Stevens and Dexter were often treated with contempt, going for 5.5 and four per over respectively.

SCORECARD

Durham first innings:

J J B Lewis b Cook 20
J P Maher lbw b Joseph 25
G J Muchall c Key b Dexter 219
G J Pratt b Patel 52
D M Benkenstein b Patel 22
G R Breese c Patel b Dexter 11
P Mustard c Stevens b Joseph 130
O D Gibson st O’Brien b Patel 33
C D Thorp c van Jaarsveld b Joseph 12
G Onions not out 17
N Killeen b Patel 5

Extras 29

Total: 575 all out after 138 overs.

Fall of wicket: 1-46, 2-52, 3-170, 4-206, 5-233, 6-482, 7-512, 8-530, 9-565.

Bowling: Khan 32-2-115-0, Cook 19-2-85-1, Joseph 29-7-124-3, Patel 28-5-100-4, Stevens 10-0-55-0, Dexter 20-5-76-2.

Kent first innings:

D P Fulton c Mustard b Benkenstein 62
R W T Key c Mustard b Killeen 23
M van Jaarsveld retired hurt 32
M J Walker not out 10
D I Stevens not out 22

Extras 15

Total: 169 for two after 68 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-60, 2-135.

Bowling: Gibson 16-5-38-0, Onions 10-2-44-0, Thorp 14-6-28-0, Killeen 17-8-29-1, Breese 5-1-12-0.

Bonus points: Kent 2, Durham 5.

* Mark Pennell's day three report will appear here at close of play tonight.