Dean Elgar produced a masterclass of calm assurance in compiling a first century for Essex while helping to steer his new employers to a dominant position in their Vitality County Championship match against Kent.
  

The former South African captain, who has replaced the retired Sir Alastair Cook at the top of the batting order, hit the 49th three-figure score of his first-class career and ensured Kent had a day of toil under bright April skies. His consummate 120 from 175 balls included 18 boundaries.

  And on a run-fest in front of a bumper crowd of 2,226, surpassing anything recorded in the Championship at Chelmsford last season, Matt Critchley chipped in with the eighth century of his career, holding together the middle-order in an unbroken vigil that has already reached 57 overs.

  Elgar shared a second century partnership of this embryonic season with fellow newcomer Jordan Cox – this one worth 159 in 35 overs. He then put on 89 for the fourth wicket with Critchley, who in turn shared stands of 58 with Paul Walter and 80 with Michael Pepper.

  When Elgar was finally out after almost four hours at the crease, chipping Matt Parkinson tamely to short square leg, he dropped his bat and kicked the ground in frustration. However, by the close, Essex had built on the foundations he had laid to reach 421-6 with Critchley still there on 103 from 173 balls.

  The two recent recruits – who put on 112 for the third wicket in the win at Trent Bridge last week – repaired the initial damage after Essex lost two wickets in the first four overs after electing to bat on a slow, batting-friendly pitch.

  Feroze Khushi went first ball, beaten by one from Wes Agar that he decided to leave and which took out his off-stump. Tom Westley drove loosely at George Garrett and was caught behind.

  Cox tore into his former team-mates with an aggressive relish from the start. He hit his second and third balls from Garrett for boundaries, and later drive successive fours off Agar. However, it was the introduction of Parkinson that piqued his interest with 13 coming off the leg-spinner’s expansive opening over.

  When Parkinson tossed up yet another inviting delivery it was deposited over the ropes behind the bowler to take Cox to a 61-ball fifty from 61 balls.

  Elgar, strong both on the drive and off his legs, was largely overshadowed by his more exuberant younger partner and needed 15 more balls to reach his half-century.

  Cox did not make a mis-step until he had reached 59 when he hooked Nathan Gilchrist to the fine leg boundary where Agar, running in, spilled the chance. The reprieved man responded by carving Agar through the covers for another boundary in the next over, but departed lbw soon after for 67 from 105 balls when misjudging a straight ball from Garrett.

  His replacement, Critchley, also took a shine to Parkinson’s wayward fare, landing a straight six followed next ball with a four through the on-side. He reached fifty when he creamed Jack Leaning through the covers to the fence.

  Critchley and Paul Walter chalked up the third half-century partnership. Walter brought up Essex’s 300 with the type of straight six off Leaning that has characterised his career. A second soon followed before Walter chased another gift from Parkinson but picked out the long-off boundary fielder.

  That ushered in Micbael Pepper who clicked immediately into white-ball mode in scoring 49 from just 42 balls, including seven fours and a six lofted through the covers off Leaning. He departed when upper-cutting Gilchrist to deep third man.

  As the light started to deteriorate in the early evening, Critchley reached his ton from 168 balls, 20 slower than Elgar’s and with just four boundaries and a six.

Essex centurion Dean Elgar said: “Things are going nicely so far, it’s been a good first day for us. Batting with Coxy [Jordan Cox] again was nice, it was good to have a partnership with him again.  We were in a bit of trouble up front against the new ball but that happens in four-day cricket.

  “I think we’ve had the ideal first day. But again the first hour is always going to be important, the new ball is always going to be doing something on a fresh wicket when it’s new but that that’s cricket for you. You get thrown different situations and scenarios.

  “I had that good partnership with Coxy and he’s playing as good as I’ve seen him play. I think everyone just sees him as a white-ball basher but he showed he can actually go out and bat and really apply himself properly.

  “It’s really good to see himself turning out the runs for us early doors and I’m sure the big one is just around the corner for Coxy.

  “Then Critch [Matt Critchley] put his hand up and batted amazingly well at the end and scored a great hundred so we are very fortunate to be in the position we are at the moment. Hopefully we can have another good day tomorrow.”

Jaydn Denly, who made his first-class debut for Kent alongside uncle Joe – the first uncle and nephew pairing for the county since 1854 – said: “I wasn’t expecting to play. I got home yesterday from the twos game [v Essex] and got a phone call. I still didn’t know if I’d be playing this morning but got the nod after. Joey [Evison] got a bit of a niggle.

  “Harry Finch gave me my cap this morning, which was a good moment. [Uncle] Joe handed it to me at the Oval in the 50-over cup last season, so they must have changed it up and got a different person to do it.

  “My dad came today with a couple of his mates. It’s always special to play with Joey, but to make your first appearance for your county is the biggest thing for me. Hopefully there will be many more.

  “It’s been a long day. The bowlers steamed in hard to the end of the day and bowled really well. It’s nice wicket out there – we’ll look forward to it when we come round to bat.

  “The Kookaburra does something early on and then flattens out a bit and doesn’t do as much. But I thought our bowlers did well, hitting a hard length and coming in and hitting the stumps, we couldn’t ask for much more.

  “We got off to a flier, but it happens, doesn’t it? Elgar batted nicely, Critchley batted nicely and kept them ticking. They’re on a good score but hopefully we can contain it. Dan [Bell-Drummond} is great, coming up with funky plans. It’s a good wicket and we need to find different ways to get their batters out.”