By JMB
September 15 2006

Darren Lehmann lashed his fifth century of the season to save Yorkshire from total collapse on the first day against Kent. While virtually all his team-mates struggled against tight bowling and excellent Kent fielding at Headingley the Australian left-hander made batting look easy. Lehmann hurried his way to a stunning 172 before being last out at 310. It was Lehmann's second big score in consecutive innings against Kent, having plundered 193 off their attack at Canterbury in May.

Yorkshire soon found themselves under the cosh as paceman Amjad Khan got rid of Craig White and Joe Sayers in a fiery burst with the new ball.

But it was Simon Cook who enjoyed the most success, five wickets for 36 runs being Kent's best figures this season. Yorkshire were struggling on 64 for three when Michael Lumb became Cook's first victim, splendidly caught right handed by Matthew Walker at silly mid-on.

Anthony McGrath played some attractive strokes until he was out shortly before lunch for 41, caught at first slip off Dwayne Bravo.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, back in Yorkshire's side after England's Under-19 Test series with India, fell lbw to a ball from Cook which brushed the top of his pad.

And Cook struck again to make it 136 for six when wicketkeeper Simon Guy was caught behind by Geraint Jones.

Lehmann had moved on to 40 at this stage and he dominated a 30-run stand with fellow Australian Jason Gillespie, but it was when Mark Lawson, Yorkshire's other leg-spinner in the side, came in that Lehmann totally dominated events. He moved into the 90s by clipping Tyron Henderson over midwicket for six and cantered to his century soon after tea off 121 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Lawson's share of a 62 stand was 21 when Cook had him caught in the slips and with only two wickets to fall Kent tried to contain Lehmann by inviting him to take singles by regularly putting eight fielders on the boundary edge. The ploy did not work, however, because he continued to either find the gaps or hit the ball over the top.

Steve Patterson edged Cook into the slips before he had scored at which stage Yorkshire were 244 for nine with Lehmann on 119. But he then played some audacious strokes while adding 56 with last man Deon Kruis to earn two further batting bonus points for his side.

Kruis had his off-stump flattened by a no-ball from Henderson at 258 for nine and soon afterwards Lehmann punished the bowler with two more leg-side sixes.

The end of a breathtaking innings came when the Australian struck Min Patel to David Fulton at short midwicket after facing 189 balls and striking 19 fours and four sixes.

Khan was forced to leave the field during the Yorkshire innings when he hurt his leg while dropping a catch off Lawson but he expects to be fit to continue in the match.

Kent were left with nine overs to bat and Fulton was soon well caught in the slips edging at Kruis, Rob Key and nightwatchman Cook taking the score to 18 for one by the close.