20:21

As days go, the double centurion Darren Stevens could hardly have wished for better. Aged 43, he was told in July that he would no longer be required by Kent after 15 years at Canterbury. Now, after a special week, he is pretty much the first name on their team sheet and forcing a rethink.

In a game significant only in the battle for third place in Division One, Stevens played the key role in helping Kent recover from 39 for five against Yorkshire to a preposterous 482 for eight. His career best 237 off 225 balls came hot on the heels of a first-innings 88 and 10 wickets in last week’s win over Nottinghamshire and surpasses his previous best of 208 in his lengthy career.

Stevens shared 346 with Sam Billings, who could be nominated for best supporting actor with his 138 off 209 balls. It smashed records aplenty, including the highest sixth-wicket partnership ever at Headingley after Duanne Olivier had claimed four early wickets.

Somerset, too, the Division One leaders, will be pretty happy with their day’s work. While their bowlers were running through Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, second-placed Essex were frustrated by bad light and drizzle at Chelmsford until just after 2pm. By the time Essex got going against Surrey, who closed on 137 for four, they were already under pressure having done nothing wrong. It will have been of some frustration to see Hampshire slip to 88 for seven. Hampshire recovered to 196, thanks to Liam Dawson’s 103, before Somerset closed on 30 for two.

It was a batting day at Trent Bridge, where centuries from Steven Mullaney and Joe Clarke helped relegated Nottinghamshire post 425 for six against Warwickshire.

There were wickets aplenty in Division Two, where all five matches affect the promotion race. Northamptonshire, second in the table, restricted Durham to 37 for four in reply to 217, including Adam Rossington’s 82. Third-placed Gloucestershire bowled Worcestershire out for 221 at New Road before reaching 87 for four.

Sussex, coming up on the rails, bowled their hosts Derbyshire out for 138 before replying with 116 for three. Lancashire, helped by scores elsewhere, secured the title with 259 against Middlesex and reducing the visitors to 39 for six at Old Trafford. Glamorgan closed on 300 for four against Leicestershire at Cardiff.