County Championship Division Two: Joe Denly hits maiden double ton

Joe Denly registered a maiden double century to significantly swell Kent's total before Jake Libby and Alex Wakely provided a solid reply for Northamptonshire on day two of their Division Two match.

Denly struck 25 fours and two sixes in 315 balls in an unbeaten 206 at Wantage Road as Kent were all out for 396 in the morning session in the Specsavers County Championship.

He had flicked a six over midwicket to bring up a fourth batting bonus point in the 110th over as he moved towards his career-best total, bettering the 199 he made at Derby back in 2011.

Kent then made made early inroads as Ben Duckett fell for seven but Libby (81) and Wakely (87) combined in a second wicket stand of 156 to steady the Northants reply.

Libby was first to his half-century, in 128 balls with four fours and a six, with a well-timed flicked through midwicket, quickly followed by his captain Wakely, who was slightly more positive and took 100 balls for his second fifty of the season.

Both were dismissed before the close but the hosts are well placed on 206-3.

Derbyshire meanwhile, face two tricky days at the crease if they are to prevent Essex extending their lead at the top of the Division Two table.

The visitors negotiated 41 overs in their first innings after Essex declared on 538-7, but still need another 264 runs to make their hosts bat again.

It was not the position Derbyshire expected to be in when they took up the option of an uncontested toss on day one, only for Essex to take full advantage of the conditions.

Essex's highest total of the season so far was anchored by 255 from opener Nick Browne, who eclipsed his previous highest first-class score by more than 100.

Dan Lawrence had added a further 65 to his overnight 51, reaching his century from 181 balls with 10 fours, before Browne and Jesse Ryder smashed 90 runs in a 10-over post-lunch blitz. 

Essex declared when they lost three wickets in 16 Shiv Thakor deliveries, the bowler recording career-best figures of 4-107.

Derbyshire's openers put on 65 before Aaron Beard, the 18-year-old Chelmsford-born pace bowler making his Championship debut, claimed his first scalp, removing Billy Godleman's off stump in his first over after tea.

The visitors closed on 124-2, having lost Chesney Hughes on 37, with Wayne Madsen on seven and Hamish Rutherford on 28.

Worcestershire turned up the heat on Sussex as the seamers took control on the second day at New Road.

After four sessions dominated by batsmen as Worcestershire added 109 to their overnight score to reach 491, the visitors came under severe pressure when set to make 342 to avoid the follow-on.

Half the side went for 116 before deputy captain Ben Brown and Matt Machan led a partial recovery, a stubborn sixth-wicket partnership of 56 helping their team to 192-6, still 299 behind, at the close.

Worcestershire's earlier total was their highest in 156 first-class meetings with Sussex, surpassing 464 at Hove in 2010.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore had reached 51 in extending his overnight partnership with Ross Whiteley, who hit a six and nine fours in a season's best knock of 71 from 121 balls. 

Both fell to the impressively accurate Steve Magoffin, who bowled 29 overs for 56 runs, while Stuart Whitttingham produced the best return of 3-86.

Worcestershire's bowlers then took five wickets in 21 overs after ending an opening stand of 58.

David Lloyd fell one run short of a century as Glamorgan built a first-innings lead of 68 over Gloucestershire on day two at Bristol.

The 24-year-old batsman looked set to reach three figures for the second time this season when caught at point for 99 off a full-length ball from Craig Miles.

Lloyd's excellent innings helped Glamorgan to 330 in reply to Gloucestershire's 262 and it might have been a lot more had Graham Wagg not been forced to retire hurt on 55, having been struck on the left arm by a delivery from Miles.

By the close Gloucestershire had made 60-1 in their second innings, Chris Dent having fallen for three to a fine diving slip catch by Aneurin Donald off Harry Podmore, and trailed by just eight runs.

Wagg was taken to hospital for an X-ray on his injury. Nothing more than bad bruising showed up and he may yet play a further part in the contest.