Stevens rides his luck

Darren Stevens' knock of 127 propelled Kent's total to a respectable 294 for four

Darren Stevens made the most of his good fortune after being dropped three times to hit 127 for Kent against Hampshire in their LV County Championship Division One clash at the Rose Bowl.

Martin van Jaarsveld also reached a century in the last over as Kent finished on a respectable 294 for four after Hampshire had won the toss.

The whole of the first day was washed out by heavy rain and play was not able to start until 12.30pm on the second after extensive mopping-up operations.

Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas hoped there would be plenty of movement in the green-looking wicket for his pace bowlers Shane Bond and Chris Tremlett.

Bond made an instant breakthrough having Joe Denly caught at second slip by James Adams off an indeterminate prod with only two on the board and other wickets quickly followed.

James Tredwell was next to go at 39, beaten on the back foot to be lbw to James Tomlinson for 15 and soon after lunch Kent captain Robert Key was dismissed.

Key, without adding to his lunch score of 21, edged Tremlett into the slips where Adams again clutched the catch.

At 44 for three, Kent were in some difficulty but Stevens joined van Jaarsveld in a stand of 210 in 55 overs for the fourth wicket, as the Hampshire attack received no assistance from the easy-paced wicket.

Stevens was dropped on four at slip by Michael Lumb, on five in the gully by Michael Brown, and on 51 by Adams at second slip.

Stevens was the dominant partner in the stand, reaching his century off 129 balls with a cover drive off Bond for four.

Stevens, who had not previously reached a half-century in the championship this season, went on to make 127 before attempting to cut spinner Greg Lamb and being snapped up behind the stumps by Tom Burrows.

Stevens batted for 176 balls and hit 13 fours and three sixes, all of the maximums off the luckless Lamb.

Van Jaarsveld reached his first championship century of the season with a square cut for four off Lamb from the penultimate ball of the day.

At the close the South African batsman was 103 not out from 181 balls with 12 fours and a six, again off Lamb.

Justin Kemp helped van Jaarsveld pile more misery on the Hampshire attack in an unbroken stand of 40 in eight overs before the close.

Lamb took some heavy punishment, his 16 overs costing 87 runs while Tremlett finished with 1-45 from 17 overs.