Former South Africa batsman Martin van Jaarsveld made his second century in successive matches to lead Kent’s fight back in their LV County Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford.

Van Jaarsveld, who has signed a contract with Woodworm cricket bats, was voted the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year last season after he made 1,150 runs including four centuries.

His 102 in the second innings against Northamptonshire was van Jaarsveld’s 18th in the championship for Kent in five productive seasons and it helped Kent build up a lead of 226 going into the final day after they were made to follow on.

Van Jaarsveld was captaining Kent in the absence of Rob Key, who was leading England Lions against the West Indies at Derby and he struck 14 fours in a defiant 146-ball innings.

His resistance was supported by 79 from makeshift opener James Tredwell and
74 from Darren Stevens and helped Kent recover well after they were dismissed for 205 in their first innings in reply to Essex’s 370.

Van Jaarsveld suffered a dislocated shoulder playing for the Titans franchise team in South Africa only two months ago but he made a quicker-than-expected recovery and was able to rejoin Kent for the start of the new season.