Kent head coach Adam Hollioake conceded they didn’t bowl well enough with the new ball as Derbyshire dominated the first day of their County Championship Division 2 match on Friday.
Tasmanian left-hander Caleb Jewell made an unbeaten 152 and shared a second-wicket stand of 196 from 333 balls with Harry Came, who was run-out for 89.
Jewell and David Lloyd, who scored 50, put on 99 for the first wicket to set the tone for a day of toil for the Kent bowlers, with only Nathan Gilchrist taking a wicket.
The home side closed on 352-2 and Kent, who have lost their last three games, already have a lot to do to get back into the match after another difficult day for their supporters.
Hollioake said: “It was a very hard day.
“It was a tough toss to lose because it’s a good wicket and I think it will deteriorate as it goes on.
“We didn’t bowl very well with the new ball and it was important we did, having lost the toss because, as we’ve seen this year, the first 30 overs have been the chance to get the wickets and not doing that gave us a really hard day in the field.
“To be fair, the boys stuck at it well. They kept going and I guess that’s all you can really do in that situation and we’ll see when we get our turn to bat how the wicket plays.”
Derbyshire certainly made the most of winning the toss on another sunny morning, aided by some indifferent bowling.
Kent’s seamers struggled to maintain a consistent line or length and only exerted a measure of control towards the end of the first session when leg-spinner Matt Parkinson (0-84) came into the attack.
By then, Jewell and Lloyd were well set, both profiting from Kent’s inability to put the ball in the right place often enough.
Lloyd’s flick over mid-wicket for six off Gilchrist (1-50) was one of a number of boundaries in a first hour containing only one maiden, which summed up how poorly Kent – who were at least able to welcome Joe Denly back from injury for the game – had bowled.
Derbyshire’s former captain reached his 50 from 86 balls and looked on course for a big score until Gilchrist swung one in to beat his drive with the opening stand one short of a century.
That was Kent’s only success before lunch, although they thought they had another after the interval when Jewell on 59 swept Parkinson to short leg where Ben Compton took the catch at the second attempt.
But their celebrations were cut short when umpire Neil Pratt – presumably thinking the ball had been played into the ground – ruled not out after consulting with his colleague at square leg.
Kent were clearly unhappy with the decision and, at the end of the over, Pratt spoke to Parkinson and captain Daniel Bell-Drummond.
It was a big moment as Jewell was batting with authority, particularly through the offside and, with Came growing in confidence after a watchful start, the hosts eased past 200 without further alarm.
After Jewell pulled and drove Jake Ball (0-96) for two more fours, Came swept Parkinson to long leg for three to bring up his 50 from 111 balls and, at tea, Derbyshire were on top at 231-1.
At the break, Jewell was seven short of a century and he completed it five overs into the evening session, sweeping Parkinson for a single.
It had been a disciplined and measured innings from the Australian who curbed some of his natural attacking instincts to put his team on course for a commanding total.
Kent bowled spin at both ends to get to the second new ball, which was taken with Derbyshire 294-1 and the breakthrough came immediately, aided by a slice of good fortune.
Jewell straight drove Ball who got a touch to deflect it into the stumps at the bowler’s end and run out Came, but that was the last success of a chastening day for the visitors.
