Derbyshire v Kent day two

Derbyshire 587-5 (Jewell 232, Madsen 100, Came 89, Reece 50*, Leaning 2-85)

Kent 210-3 (Compton 105*, Dal 2-34)

Derbyshire lead by 377 runs

Derbyshire did brilliantly to compile a mammoth first innings total of 587-5 declared today, largely on the back of a career-best 232 by Caleb Jewell and a century by Wayne Madsen. 

They then chipped away at the Kent innings, taking three wickets by the close of play. 

Yet I cannot see a positive result in this game, on a pitch that remains a very good one for batting. Ben Compton looked in fine fettle for the visitors and reached an excellent century by the close and his wicket will be the crucial one in determining whether Derbyshire can enforce the follow-on. Jack Leaning is another, a player with what my memory suggests is a good record against us, for first Yorkshire and now Kent. It will be an important first session tomorrow, weather permitting.

Earlier today, Jewell and Madsen added 176 for the third wicket, both batting beautifully and enjoying the conditions and a limited Kent attack after Jake Ball limped off with what looked like an abdominal injury. Wayne was at his imperious best and the century never seemed in doubt after he overcame a little early innings sketchiness.

As for Jewell, he went on to his highest-ever score and looked a player of the highest class in doing so. He carried out his role to perfection and could hardly have played better than this. After Madsen holed out to long on, Luis Reece played a breezy innings on his return to the side, while Martin Andersson hit four sixes in his unbeaten 31 from just 17 deliveries. 

Anuj Dal took two quick wickets in an inspired late spell, but digging out another seventeen looks like a tall order, especially with interruptions likely on the final day.

Perhaps they should cling to the words of Kent coach Adam Hollioake, speaking on his club's feed earlier. He felt it was a very good toss to win and that the pitch was likely to deteriorate. If the worst happened and the game ends in a draw, the points would almost certainly keep Derbyshire in second place, going into the mid-season red ball break.

But early wickets tomorrow could change the complexion of things.

We live in hope.

Postscript: in closing, KJB Loyal asked earlier if I thought the record innings of 274 by George Davidson would ever be broken. There was an opportunity today, but it didn't happen. 

I think it will take a lot of doing. It was a different game then and the Derbyshire innings of 577 in 1896 took 271 five-ball overs. There was not enough time for Lancashire to be bowled out twice, even though they faced 187 overs themselves over two innings in a three-day match...

It will take some beating and I would be surprised if it happened in my lifetime. Given modern over rates, it would need someone in prime form to do it, or a match situation where a draw was the best and only outcome.