April 12-15, The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Essex 530-7d (Critchley 151*, Elgar 120, Garrett 2-80, Parkinson 2-125)
Kent 229-1 (Bell-Drummond 127*, Compton 91*, Snater 1-23)
Toss: Essex, who elected to bat. Officials: Ian Blackwell, Graham Lloyd, Phil Whitticase
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 42 for 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 then drove loosely at George Garrett and was caught behind.
Cox tore into his former team-mates with relish from the start. He hit his second and third balls from Garrett for boundaries, and later drove successive fours off Agar. However, it was the introduction of Parkinson that piqued his interest with 13 coming off the leg-spinner’s expansive op
