Derbyshire 291 for 3 (Hughes 83, Madsen 73*, Rutherford 65) trail Kent 379 (Northeast 191, Palladino 4-76) by 88 runs
Scorecard
Half-centuries from visiting batsmen Hamish Rutherford and Chesney Hughes coupled with an unbeaten 73 by Wayne Madsen ensured that Derbyshire edged into the ascendancy by the midpoint of their Specsavers County Championship clash with Kent. In response to Kent's 379 all out, Derbyshire reached stumps on 291 for 3 and will go into the third day in Canterbury trailing by 88 runs.
On a second-day pitch that appears to have lost some of its initial pace and carry, Derbyshire's top order dug in for steady, if unspectacular, run-making against a Kent attack hit by three injuries and shorn of its spearhead, Matt Coles, who had been declared "unavailable for selection".
Having failed to take a wicket in the 17 overs through to lunch, the hosts at least winkled out two Derbyshire batsmen in the mid-session but still missed the cutting edge of their attack leader Coles. The 26-year-old had allegedly missed the game due to "personal reasons" but his absence only served to spark rumours aplenty among the Kent membership.
In the absence of Coles, Kent turned to six bowlers but only the wily Mitch Claydon and James Tredwell enjoyed any success. Visiting skipper Billy Godleman nicked off to Claydon, as Tom Latham, diving almost behind the keeper Sam Billings, took a superb slip catch to make it 75 for 1. Then, after facing 120 balls for his 65, Hamish Rutherford holed out to Alex Blake at long-off to give Tredwell his first scalp of the match.
Having cut the Kent lead to 211 by the tea interval, Derbyshire ploughed on during the evening session as left-hander Chesney Hughes posted a 91-ball 50 with seven fours. He combined with Madsen to add 112 in 28.5 overs for the third wicket until Hughes, on 83 from 139 balls, top edged an attempted slog-sweep to send a steepling return catch to Tredwell.
In the next over Madsen reached his half-century milestone from 101 balls and with four fours as dour post-tea events out in the middle vied for attention with the first half of Italy's Euro 2016 tie with Spain, which was being shown on the TVs around ground.
At the start of the day Kent captain Sam Northeast was dismissed nine short of a maiden double-hundred as Kent posted 379 all out. Northeast improved upon his career best but, on 191, he was caught at long-on when attempting to clear the ropes against Hughes' left-arm spin. He batted for over six hours, faced 266 balls and hit 22 fours.
Kent also lost Tredwell and Claydon in the opening hour as the hosts missed out on a fifth batting bonus point by 21 runs.
