Geraint Jones celebrated another milestone in a memorable season when his fifth Championship century held Kent together at Derby.

Jones passed 1,000 Championship runs for the summer on his way to an impressive hundred that carried the LV Division Two leaders to 232 for five before rain prevented any play after tea.

Derbyshire had reduced Kent to 158 for five with Steffan Jones taking three for 29 in 16 overs but Jones and Alex Blake shared an unbroken stand of 74 to give the visitors the edge.

The home side had put Kent in on a pitch offering assistance but they had tended to bowl too short before Jones delivered in an excellent pre-lunch spell.

Sam Northeast had become the first batsmen to fall to a loose shot when he skied a pull to square leg in the ninth over to give Tom Lungley a wicket on his return from a short loan spell with Lancashire.

But the prized scalp of Rob Key went to Steffan Jones five overs later when the Kent skipper played around a slower ball to be lbw for 30.

Martin van Jaarsveld fell into a trap when he pulled Jones into the hands of Wavell Hinds at deep midwicket and at lunch, the experienced pace bowler had the outstanding figures of two for nine from eight overs.

Geraint Jones reached his fifty by launching Graham Wagg's slow left-arm spin over the long on boundary but Kent continued to gift-wrap wickets with Darren Stevens cutting a short ball from Lungley to deep cover.

Justin Kemp hooked Tim Groenewald just over the head of Hinds at deep square leg for six but Jones produced a good ball to have the South African caught behind for 19.

At that stage, Derbyshire were on top but Jones mixed measured defence with flowing drives and crisp pulls to put the innings back on track.

The former England wicketkeeper hardly played a false shot and was given good support by Blake who was making only his second appearance in the Championship.

He survived a big lbw appeal when he was deceived by a slower ball from Lungley but displayed good judgement as the sixth wicket pair denied Derbyshire further success.

Jones reached a century, which came off only 152 balls and contained 12 fours and a six, when he glanced Wagg fine to the boundary and was unbeaten on 107 when the weather closed in, with Blake 30 not out.