Yorkshire v Kent

JOE DENLY took over as the county's leading LV Championship run-scorer with an unbeaten 60 from 122 balls on a rain affected opening day to their game with leaders Yorkshire.

Two spells of rain led to a 45 minute delay at the start then, from 12.20pm onward a lengthier break that led to the loss of 51 overs until play resumed at 4.30pm.

Batting first after winning the toss, Kent generally held their concentration well and lost two wickets to nigh on impossible deliveries.

Denly, the 21-year-old right-hander from Whitstable featured in an opening stand worth 56 with skipper Rob Key and, after the loss of two wickets inside three overs, survived through to the close to take Kent into day two on 135 for two.

In the process Denly posted his fifth championship half-century of the summer from 81 balls and with eight fours and took his season's aggregate to 634 to move above Martin van Jaarsveld, who became one of two victims picked up by the lively medium-pace of Tim Bresnan.

Getting the ball to dart away from the right-hander's from a dangerous, off-stump line, Bresnan got Key to nick one to Gerard Brophy to go for 21 then, in his next over, van Jaarsveld sparred with a near identical ball to give Brophy another catch.

Once again, Denly had shown a real willingness to take on the bowlers and was keen to straight drive and work the ball of his legs when able.

He was offered one life when, with his score on 31, he clipped firmly off his legs against Bresnan only to see Adil Rashid down a hard, one-handed chance diving full-length to his right.

Denly and James Tredwell (40) went into their shells somewhat as the light deteriorated near the close, but then two overs of loose leg-pin from Rashid and then Mark Lawson allowed the visitors to end the day with a flurry of five boundaries.

Scorecard

Kent first innings

R W T Key c Brophy b Bresnan 21J L Denly not out 60
M van Jaarsveld c Brophy b Bresnan 5
J C Tredwell not out 40
Extras 9

Total 135 for two after 41 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-56, 2-66.

Bowling: Gough 11-4-28-0, Gillespie 11-4-24-0, Rashid 3-0-19-0, Bresnan 10-2-37-2, McGrath 4-2-2-0, Lawson 2-0-18-0.