KENT’S understudy wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien pouched five catches to put his side in the driving seat on the opening day of their match with Middlesex.

Batting first after winning toss, the visitors reached 174 for five after 51 overs with Simon Cusden and Matthew Walker bagging two wickets apiece.

Canterbury-born Cusden made the first breakthrough in the 16th over of the day having Sven Koenig (39) caught behind after edging a flashing, back-foot force.

But at the other end David Stiff suffered a young bowler’s nightmare, sending down seven no balls and a wide in his opening six overs.

Cusden thought he had two when Ben Hutton, with his score on 16, edged a low catch to Niall O’Brien, but the batsmen refused to walk and the umpires John Steele and Michael Harris, remained undecided as to whether the ball had carried. Justice was seemingly done six balls later when Hutton, without addition, top-edged a hook shot to O’Brien running back toward fine leg.

After lunch Matt Walker got in on the act, taking two vital wickets in the space of six overs with his part-time military medium-pace.

Owais Shah (25) nibbled at a leg-cutter to edge behind, then Paul Weekes (12) nicked an expansive drive to make it 143 for four.

Ben Trott, playing his last game for the county, then deservedly got in on the act, as Ed Joyce (20) pushed at one running across him to give O’Brien his fifth catch of the innings.