SPORTING a smile from ear to ear, Kent's new overseas professional Yasir Arafat could not have been happier last night after a remarkable performance on his county home debut.

The Pakistan all-rounder hit a magnificent, career-best 122 on his St Lawrence debut to help the hosts recover from the depths of 66 for four and post a respectable 368 all out.

Then, playing against the county he helped win the county championship last summer, Arafat grabbed the new ball to claim two wickets in as many overs and leave Sussex in trouble on 19 for two at stumps on the opening day.

A clearly delighted Arafat said afterwards: "This was my first home game for Kent and I'd made my mind to score some good runs and with the help of God I did it and got my century and then took two crucial wickets to help Kent into a good position now.

"It's a good opportunity for me to play for Kent and this was a good start in front of the home crowd.

"I've been here almost a month now and am settling in very well. Every team member has been kind and especially the coaches who have been helping me quite a lot.

"When I got in to bat we were struggling quite a lot, but Matthew Walker and I (who also scored a century) put a great partnership together.

"I like these kind of situations, but Matthew played really well and I made sure I would make a good hundred."

Arafat will be hoping for more of the same in Canterbury today where the game continues with Sussex still trailing by 349 runs on first innings.