County Championship: Essex and Kent pile on the runs at Chelmsford

Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond hit a second-successive County Championship century on a benign pitch where only two wickets fell all day on day two against Essex.

Bell-Drummond reached three-figures against Somerset last week and helped his side fight back here after suffering three and a half sessions of unremitting toil in the field at Chelmsford.

However, in company with fellow centurion Ben Compton for 71 overs, Bell-Drummond helped put on 218 for the second wicket.

Needing 381 to make Essex bat again, Kent had knocked off 245 by stumps for the loss of one wicket with Bell-Drummond 134 not out and Compton unbeaten on 100.

Essex’s 530-7 declared was anchored by Matt Critchley’s career-best 151 not out that included five fours and four maximums.

Shane Snater had claimed the first Kent wicket just before lunch when Tawanda Muyeye (11) shouldered arms to one that went straight on and rapped his pad – but it was ultimately the last wicket to fall.

Bell-Drummond reached his half-century from 99 balls with a push into the covers off Aaron Beard and then cross-batted the same bowler through midwicket for his sixth boundary.

Compton, who was dropped at slip on 20, batted just under three hours for his 50 from 147 balls.

When Critchley strayed down either side of the wicket, Compton nudged the ball three times to the boundary in quick succession.

Suddenly, as the evening session progressed in bright sunshine, it was the turn of the Essex attack to suffer.

Bell-Drummond’s 10th four took him to a 168-ball century and also brought up the 150-run stand for the second wicket.

Compton reached his century on the last ball of the day, having faced 237 balls and recorded 12 fours.

Essex had batted on for 70 minutes in the morning, adding 109 runs and losing just the wicket of Harmer as they claimed full batting points.

Only Kent bowler George Garrett – who took 2-80 – went at less than four runs an over.