Joe Denly made a career-best unbeaten 206 on an even second day’s play between Kent and Northamptonshire at The County Ground in Northampton.

The Canterbury-born batsman’s double-century was the first of his career, beating his previous career best in First Class cricket of 199, made against Derbyshire in 2011.

It helped his side to an eventual total of 396, as he remained unbeaten through to the end of the innings, before the Kent attack put in the hard yards on a pitch offering little pace or assistance to the bowlers.

The home side reaching 206/3 at stumps, with both captain Alex Wakely and opening batsman Jake Libby making good contributions but failing to reach three figures. Both were removed in the evening session by Calum Haggett, each out chasing a wide one, caught behind by Adam Rouse, but not before they had put on a partnership of 156 for the second wicket.

Denly resumed his innings on 126 not out, having brought up his first century of the season on the first day of the game yesterday. Mitch Claydon (16) played positively as usual, but was out stumped by Adam Rossington to give Monty Panesar a third wicket on his return to county cricket.

Matt Hunn, batting at number 10, was to provide the majority of Denly’s support on the second day, as the 22-year-old seamer saw out 46 balls for his 3, helping Kent to a fourth batting bonus point in the process.

Denly brought up that fourth batting point with a huge six which took the ball out of the ground, before another boundary took him to his double century, shortly after Hunn had been bowled by Rob Keogh to end his obdurate resistance.

Imran Qayyum made a golden duck on his First Class debut as he edged Rory Kleinveldt to Rossington, to leave Denly soaking up the well-deserved applause for his mammoth effort, coming from 315 balls and featuring 25 fours and two sixes.

Kent then made an early breakthrough before lunch as Darren Stevens had Ben Duckett caught by Sean Dickson at point for just 7. Libby and Wakely then came together and ground out the runs for the home side, in a steady if far-from-spectacular fashion.

The pair batted through the entire afternoon session unbroken, but Haggett continued to plug away and removed both in the third and final session of the day.

Joe Denly said at the end of an incredible day having hit his unbeaten double century:

“I’m absolutely delighted. The plan this morning was firstly to try and to get 350, so to get us up to around 400 and to personally get the double hundred was fantastic.

“It was disappointing not to get it when I was last on that score [his previous first-class career best was 199], but I felt pretty good today and was delighted when the ball went through the covers for four.

“It’s pretty tough scoring if you bowl stump to stump and don’t give away any freebies. I thought we did that pretty well.”

Northamptonshire will resume on 206/3 on day three tomorrow, trailing Kent by 190 runs.

Stumps, day two, Northamptonshire v Kent at Northampton, May 15-18 2016:

Northamptonshire 202/3 (Wakely 87, Libby 81; Haggett 2-58) trail Kent 396 (Denly 206 not out; Kleinveldt 3-53) by 190 runs

Northamptonshire: Libby, Duckett, Wakely*, Cobb, Levi, Rossington†, Keogh, Kleinveldt, Stone, Azharullah, Panesar

Kent: Bell-Drummond, Latham, Denly, Northeast*, Dickson, Stevens, Rouse†, Haggett, Claydon, Hunn, Qayyum

Points: Northamptonshire 3*, Kent 5*

Full scorecard available here.

Photograph courtesy of Sarah Ansell Photography