Date-stamped : 12 Jul95 - 06:27 ====> DAY 1 De Silva's 243 sets up record By D. J. Rutnagur at Maidstone First day of four: Kent (486-4) v Derbyshire ARAVINDA de Silva, quite irrepressible while scoring his second double century in successive matches, and Graham Cowdrey, who scored his first championship century in two seasons, combined yesterday to form Kent's highest partnership for any wicket against all-comers. Their 368 improved by two runs on the second-wicket stand between Neil Taylor and Simon Hinks against Middlesex in 1990. Yesterday, however, Taylor was swept away for only five, offering no stroke to Frank Griffith - the second of three early victims for Derbyshire. Trevor Ward was lbw trying to work Allan Warner through midwicket while Mark Benson holed out to mid-on. There are several epithets that would fit de Silva's unbeaten innings which, at the end of the day, was only 24 short of his highest-ever score - in a Test match at Wellington. It was flamboyant for the drives through cover and midwicket and artistic for his wristy glances and delicate late cuts off Andy Cottam and Kim Barnett. At the 200 mark, reached off 227 balls, de Silva's innings was festooned with 34 fours and a pulled six. His partnership with Cowdrey spanned only 80 overs and Kent had collected a full hand of batting points with 33 overs to spare. If overshadowed, Cowdrey was far from eclipsed by de Silva's brilliance. He batted with impressive authority for one who has long ceased to be a regular in the side, his 137 containing 22 fours. A truly struck square-cut by Cowdrey off Cottam was caught low down at cover. Had Cottam, who took some fearful punishment from de Silva, not had this success, he would have been left with dreadful memories of the ground on which his father, Bob, took his 1,000th wicket. ====> DAY 2 Adams takes heat off Derbyshire By D. J. Rutnagur at Maidstone Second day of four: Derbyshire (322-3) trail Kent (534) by 212 runs WITHOUT achieving the enchanting mastery of Aravinda de Silva on the previous day, Chris Adams feasted joyously on the offerings of a blissful pitch at the Mote to score his second century of the season. Thanks to the dominance that Adams established over the Kent bowling, both the quick and the twirly variety, Derbyshire's first objective of scoring 385 to avoid the follow on did not seem too daunting. Good form has come back swiftly to Adams after a three-match break caused by damaged knee ligaments. Drives played with a flourish and square cuts struck with power generated by brawny arms backed his hundred, reached off 123 balls, with 20 fours and a six hoisted over extra cover off Tim Wren, and he was 130 not out at the close. Adams's ally during his second-wicket partnership of 109, which gave Derbyshire a firm foundation, was Adrian Rollins, who made a resolute 82 - his best score of the summer - in an innings which was a mixture of squirts and firm off-side shots. De Silva prised out Rollins with the collaboration of Mark Ealham at gully. Daryll Cullinan helped Adams raise another 63 and then Colin Wells, batting responsibly and yet enterprisingly for his unbeaten 41, further loosened Kent's grip on the match. The swiftness with which Derbyshire demolished Kent's six remaining wickets in the morning - in little over an hour for the addition of just 50 runs - belied the innocuous and helpless look of their attack on Wednesday. The damage was all done by Allan Warner and Frank Griffith. De Silva, eventually out for 255, was one of Warner's five victims. ====> DAY 3 Adams's 216 gives Derbyshire hope By D. J. Rutnagur at Maidstone Third day of four: Kent (534 & 215-4) lead Derbys (546-9dec) by 203 runs THERE is a precedent for Derbyshire winning a match in which they and the opposition totalled 500-plus in the first innings. That was against Essex at Chesterfield, in 1904, when pitches were uncovered. Rain, no doubt, influenced events on that occasion. If history is to be repeated at the Mote, it can only be through a successful run-chase and it is hard to imagine Kent dangling too juicy a carrot for the pitch remains good enough for further amassing of runs. Testimony to its durability and unflinching loyalty to batsmen was an exciting double-century by the belligerent Chris Adams and his partnership with Colin Wells of 224, in 48 overs, is Derbyshire's best for any wicket against Kent. Wells, also bristling with aggression, was unlucky to miss his century by two runs for the second time this season. The quality of the pitch was also endorsed by the freedom with which Mark Benson and Aravinda De Silva, poised for his second three-figure score of the match, went about setting up a declaration, putting on 152 in Kent's second innings, from 37 overs. Kent had made a wobbly start, however, losing Trevor Ward and Neil Taylor for 48 and shortly after Benson holed out, Kim Barnett had Graham Cowdrey deftly held at slip. ====> DAY 4 Kent's steely tail foil Derbyshire By D.J. Rutnagur at Maidstone Fourth day of four: Derbys (546-9d and 168-4) drew with Kent (534 and 339-9d) WITH the first two innings producing well over 1,000 runs and consuming two days and a good part of the third - and not to mention an unyielding pitch - a draw was always the likeliest result. But although the finish was tame, the events leading up to it were far from dreary. The outcome could have remained open longer, and probably decided conclusively, had Derbyshire mopped up Kent's tail. But a steely Steve Marsh, who remained unbeaten with 57, and Tim Wren put on 29 runs and, importantly, kept Derbyshire at bay for 36 minutes on either side of lunch. Kent eventually declared to leave Derbyshire 200 minutes, or a minumum of 48 overs, in which to score 328. Derbyshire rattled sabres and reached 66 from 14 overs, but once Chris Adams was second out, having made 43 from as many balls, they abandoned the chase. But some life was breathed into a dying match when Kent dismissed Daryll Cullinan and Adrian Rollins in quick succession. Min Patel had the South African caught at silly point, while Wren, who had earlier trapped Adams lbw with an in-swinger, beat Rollins for pace and sent the bails flying. Derbyshire were left to rue the two chances they dropped on Friday evening, particularly Frank Griffith's lapse at short mid-wicket which reprieved Arvinda de Silva when only six. The little Sri Lankan shepherded Kent's innings until 50 minutes before lunch, when the gap had been widened to 259 and he had scored 116 following to his blazing 255 in the first innings. Martin McCague, the night watchman, kept de Silva company for 24 minutes but Mark Ealham did not last long, edging an out-swinger from Warner for a low slip catch. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)