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More on KentOnline
Darren Stevens hit a stunning 190 to single-handedly revive Kent on the second day of their County Championship game against Glamorgan.
The 45-year-old thrilled the 950-strong crowd at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence as he hit 15 sixes and as many fours, digging his side out of trouble in the process as Kent recovered to 307 all out, having slumped to 92-7.
Stevens dominated a partnership of 166 for the ninth wicket with Miguel Cummins, to which the latter contributed a single, and he then removed Marnus Labuschagne with the ball as Glamorgan reached 55-2 at stumps, a deficit of 252.
Kent made a disastrous start at a St Lawrence ground buffeted by 50 mph winds as they resumed on 70-2.
The overnight batsmen added just a single each to their scores before they were both removed by Michael Neser. He trapped Jack Leaning lbw for two, bowled Jordan Cox through the gate for 27 and then had the out of sorts Daniel Bell-Drummond leg before for a seven-ball duck.
Sam Billings, playing his first game after returning from the IPL, produced one lovely drive to the boundary. But when he appeared to be harshly adjudged leg before for 11, Kent had collapsed to 84-6.
Marcus O’Riordan was dropped at second slip but it mattered little as he nicked behind for a 15-ball duck, meaning Kent had lost seven wickets for just 32 runs.
When Nathan Gilchrist was lbw to Neser (4-67) for 12, Stevens started swinging. He hit two sixes over fine leg to steer Kent to 150-8 at lunch, bringing up his half-century two balls before the break.
Stevens flicked a third over square leg early in the afternoon session, before smashing a fourth over long on. He plundered two more from Andrew Salter - who conceded 32 runs in his two overs - in the space of three balls, before driving Michael Hogan for four through long off to bring up his century, from 92 balls.
He kept accelerating as Glamorgan struggled to contain the 45-year-old, who cleverly farmed the strike. Stevens became the oldest player to score a first-class century since Chris Balderstone for Leicestershire in 1986.
Stevens was dropped on the boundary on 136 by Labuschagne, then again by Billy Root, who spilled the ball over the ropes one run later. A vicous square cut then knocked Richard Illingworth off his feet, but the umpire was unharmed and the two men bumped fists before play resumed.
Stevens finally holed out to Kiran Carlson at long on off Labuschagne for 190 off just 149 balls. It was his second ton of the summer, and surely means there will be a new contract for next season waiting for him when he's ready.
Cummins, who took more than 50 balls to score that vital one not out, ensured the final wicket got Kent a third bonus batting point before he was bowled by Labuschagne for seven to end the innings on 307.
Matt Quinn removed David Lloyd lbw for four and Stevens had a disgruntled Labuschagne leg before for 11, another delivery that did not appear to be hitting the stumps.
Opener Joe Cooke and Billy Root were the not out batsmen on 10 and 21 respectively when play was eventually called off for bad light - but nothing was going to stop the bright lights shining on the veteran Stevens after another dazzling display with the bat.
