Alex Blake hopes his knock of 88 in Kent's final match before Friday’s Championship opener against Gloucestershire will be enough to get him in the team.

The 28-year-old led the way with the bat as Kent completed a two-day friendly with Surrey at Canterbury on Monday.

The Beckenham-born ace was run-out by Zafar Ansari 12 runs short of a century but said he was happy with how his preparation had gone.

“It’s always nice to get a few runs in pre-season and put my name in the hat (for selection), that’s all I can do.

"I’m totally aware that we’ve got a strong side that will be raring to go for Friday, whether I’m involved in that, I’m not sure, but I’ve put my name forward with some runs.”

Often renowned as a white-ball specialist, the restructuring of fixtures into blocks this season is sure to suit Blake in his bid to become a four-day regular.

He said: "Being able to train specifically for each format will definitely help.

"It has always been a case for me to transfer my white-ball game to the four-day, that’s a mindset thing for me,

"I like to try and score, but I have worked on a couple of weaknesses over the winter so hopefully I’ll see the rewards of that.

"With a bit more patience, I can build a few more innings and last a bit longer and with more work, I’ll be going in the right direction.”

On the opening day, Surrey raced to 200 without loss, with openers Mark Stoneman (70*) and Rory Burns (48*) retiring.

James Tredwell trapped Scott Borthwick (36) while Matt Hunn ousted Ansari and Imran Qayyum accounted for Sam Curran to leave the visitors on 253-3 though they ended the day on 339-3.

In reply Daniel Bell-Drummond (10) and Joe Weatherley (7) didn’t linger while Sean Dickson made 27 and Darren Stevens departed for a duck as Kent slipped to 79-4.

Blake and Will Gidman (16) steadied the ship with a 50-stand and Blake added another 72 with Adam Rouse before being run-out for 88.

He added: "It was a shame not to get three figures but it’s pleasing to get runs against a good attack and hopefully it has done me a couple of favours.”

Rouse and Matt Coles each went for 39 before Gidman and Dickson departed for a second time in a day, falling for four apiece, while Tredwell made 26 as Kent batted on to close the final day on the unusual score of 304/11.