Mitchell Claydon says he ‘loved’ his Kent debut and hopes the positive end to the LV= County Championship Division 2 clash with Glamorgan will provide the club with some momentum.

The on-loan Durham paceman took 3-85 as visitors Glamorgan eventually made 378 in a rain-affected first innings and, despite departing for just three as Kent were forced to follow-on after making just 135 in reply, the Australian-born player hit 40 in Kent’s second innings to help stave off the threat of defeat.

Claydon and Calum Haggett came together with the score at 401-7 and, despite Haggett departing for 17 after a partnership of 36, Claydon remained to add another 31 runs with Adam Riley before eventually being dismissed for a 72-ball 40, which included six boundaries.

The 30-year-old said: “Hag and I had 60 overs left in the day and the lead was only 140-odd. We had to try and take time out of the game but at the same time we needed to try and score some runs.

“I enjoyed it out there. I loved it, coming in to a pretty young side. I enjoyed playing at Canterbury and coming in to bowl down the slope really suits my game.

“We were not at our best in the field in the first innings. There were a few missed opportunities and maybe we could have gone through them on that first day if we had held on to a couple of catches.

“To be bowled out for 130 the following day left us a full day and two-and-a-half sessions to bat but we dug in and came through it. The end of the game was pretty positive for us. It was an important momentum shift at a time when we have some one-day and t20 games coming up.”