Shell-shocked Sean Dickson said reaching a century at Beckenham this week meant more to him than the total of 318 runs he ended up with.

The South African-born batsman had made ducks in four of his last five Championship matches and averaged less than 17 in his previous nine innings before this week’s breathtaking knock against Northants.

Dickson registered the highest ever score on home soil by a Kent batsman and fell just 14 runs shy of the biggest score in the club's 147-year history.

The 25-year-old admitted: “After the way things have been going, for me the most satisfying thing was getting to 100. That means more to me than the 200 or 300, though they were obviously amazing too.

“When I got to 100 I celebrated like mad, I screamed. It meant so much.”

He added: “I’ve worked my backside off this season - well, actually for the past three years - but to get to 100 after all that hard work really hit home in the moment.

“I have gotten to 60 or 70 but I know now that when you get to that point you need to take ownership. I did that and then just kept going.”

Dickson and in-form Denly (182) shared the highest partnership for any wicket in the club’s history, putting on 382 runs for the second wicket in a 72.4-over onslaught across Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning to surpass the 368 put on by Aravinda De Silva and Graham Cowdrey for the fourth wicket against Derbyshire at the Mote in 1995.

Dickson added: “I tried to stay focused on doing the little things and not doing anything stupid and let the results take care of themselves.

“I was in a good place, things just kept flowing, and I’m very lucky to have had some quality players at the other end, I couldn’t have done anything without them, especially Joe who is in some incredible form at the moment.”

During his knock, Dickson surpassed his highest ever First Class score of 207 and posted Kent’s highest ever total against Northants - beating Frank Woolley’s 217 in 1926.

Dickson gestured to Matt Walker on the balcony after reaching 276, in recognition of passing his coach’s post-war milestone of 275 recorded against Somerset at Canterbury in 1996.

Dickson said: “I pointed up to him, I just wanted to acknowledge him in that moment. There was absolutely no spitefulness in the gesture I assure you.”

When Dickson reached 295 just after lunch on Tuesday he passed Les Ames for the third highest score in club history while the highest home score by a Kent batsman belonged to Bill Ashdown until Dickson overhauled the unbeaten 305 he recorded against Derbyshire at Dover in 1935.

Ashdown’s club record of 332 against Essex at Brentwood the previous year proved a step too far, as Dickson holed-out for 318.

He revealed: “I was aware of the 332 but in that situation, though I wanted it, it felt very far away. I know it’s only 14 runs, but it felt a long way. If the ball I’d hit had gone for six then I suppose it’s down to eight and that feels a lot closer.”

He added: “It still hasn’t sunk in to be honest, and it might not for a little while. I am still very overwhelmed, but it was just another day in the job I guess.

“It does feel special and it will hopefully only sink in more. It’s something for me to build on.

“My phone hasn’t stopped, having so many messages from people has been magical. My sister has been in touch from South Africa and said it’s big news there too. Who know’s what it might lead to...”

Dickson’s knock was the highest score in the County Championship since Kevin Pietersen scored 355 in May 2015 yet remarkably it was just his third First Class century, with one of them a double century and now a triple century to boot.

Kent eventually declared on 701-7 - the second highest First Class score in their history, though the match seems destined for a draw on the final day on Thursday.