KENT finally claimed Kiwi scalps in Canterbury but the tourists remained well in control in reaching 254 for two after 80 overs.

Kent's fielders conspired to drop three catches, rookie seamer David Stiff sent down 18 no balls and the New Zealander's focussed on quantity of time at the crease rather than quality, in a turgid day's play.

The first breakthrough came in the 76th over when Michael Papps's 288-minute stay came to an end with his score on 126.

The little right-hander, who plays with a lot of bottom hand in his leg-side shots, finally played around a slower ball from Stiff to make it 244 for one and end a near record stand for the Kiwis in England.

Papps had been dropped when on 23 and 34, but otherwise his 18 fours and 248-ball stay was fairly unremarkable.

The breakthrough was also unlucky in that it was sandwiched between Stiff's 15th and 16th no balls of the day.

Three balls later Stiff had Nathan Astle dropped at second slip by Matthew Walker, but the ex-Yorkshire bowler re-grouped tweo overs later to bowl Mark Richardson.

Richardson took five hours to reach a painstaking 92 but he backed away from a slower ball believing it to be a beamer, only for the ball to dip late and remove off stump.

Kent: Fulton, Key, Smith, Walker, Carberry, Jones, Ferley, Patel, Khan, Stiff, Sheriyar.