May 04, 2007	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1428

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LONDON, May 3: Australian Simon Katich showed no ill-effects from having been dropped by his national side's 25-man international squad on Tuesday to hit an unbeaten double century a day later.

Katich hit 220 not out as Derbyshire blasted to 448 for four against Somerset at Taunton in the County Championship Division One clash.

Katich's unbroken 241-run partnership with compatriot Ian Harvey, who managed 123 not out, proved the undoing on a day of toil for Somerset.

Kent fought a defiant rearguard action to frustrate title-holders Sussex on the first day of their Division One clash at Canterbury.

The hosts looked in deep trouble at 66 for four as Pakistani bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Robin Martin-Jenkins claimed a brace of early wickets each.

But out of favour England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones (49) helped to steady the ship before a 148-run partnership between centurions Matt Walker (103) and Pakistani Yasir Arafat (122), who played for Sussex last season, guided Kent towards a respectable final total of 368.

The visitors struggled to 19 for two before the close as Yasir removed veteran Richard Montgomerie and night-watchman James Kirtley for ducks.

England captain Michael Vaughan showed a much desired return to form after a dismal World Cup as he scored 72 for Yorkshire before being run out against Hampshire.

Pakistan's Younis Khan top-scored with 106, while rising star Adil Rashid also hit a half-century as the Tykes made a disappointing 299 all out after their lower order folded cheaply.

Scores on Wednesday:

County Championship:

(First day of four):

Division One:

At The Rose Bowl: Yorkshire 299 (Younis Khan 106, M.P. Vaughan 72, A. Rashid 54; J. Bruce 4-56); Hampshire 25-0

At Canterbury: Kent 368 (Yasir Arafat 122, M. Walker 103; R.S.C. Martin-Jenkins 5-67); Sussex 19-2.

At Old Trafford: Surrey 284 (J.N. Batty 70, A.D. Brown 69, S.A. Newman 60; G Keedy 4-57); Lancashire 18-1.

At Worcester: Warwickshire 385-5 (J.O. Troughton 162, T. Ambrose 110 not out) v Worcestershire.

Division Two:

At Bristol: Gloucestershire 387-6 (Kadeer Ali 92, M.J. North 86, G. Hodnett 67) v Leicestershire.

At Northampton: Essex 334 (A.N. Cook 136, M. Pettini 67; S Crook 4-56) v Northamptonshire.

At Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 416-5 (J.E.R. Gallian 176 not out, S. Patel 108, D.J. Hussey 81) v Glamorgan.

At Taunton: Derbyshire 448-4 (S.M. Katich 220 not out, I.J. Harvey 123 not out, S.D. Stubbings 58) v Somerset.—AFP