Gareth Breese

CANTERBURY, England (CMC):

Former Jamaica and West Indies all-rounder, Gareth Breese, slammed a superb century for Durham as they tightened the screws on Kent and enhanced their chances of capturing the Division One County Championship yesterday.

The 32-year-old, who played one Test in 2002, stroked an undefeated 121 as Durham, resuming at 289 for six in response to Kent's 225, declared on 500 for eight to claim maximum batting points.

Trailing by 275, right-arm medium pacer Callum Thorp captured five for 61 to send the hosts stumbling to 159 for five. They require a further 116 to avoid an innings defeat that would give Durham the title.

Breese, playing in only his second championship match of the season, resumed on 46 and crafted his way to three figures, sharing a 148-run, seventh-wicket stand with Phil Mustard who scored 83.

The right-handed Breese banged 13 fours and a six, faced 215 balls in an innings that lasted four-and-a-half hours. When Mustard fell, he found an ally in Paul Wiseman who struck 34 in a stand of 58 for the eighth wicket.

With leaders Nottinghamshire continuing to struggle against Hampshire at Trent Bridge and second-place Somerset 60 runs away from defeat against Lancashire at Taunton, Durham then installed themselves in pole position to take the Division One title with a superb bowling display.

Thorp quickly removed the top five batsmen as Kent slumped to 58 for five before an unbroken stand of 101 between Justin Kemp (49) and Ryan McLaren (45) halted the Durham juggernaut