KENT lost eight wickets on a rain-interupted opening day against Surrey in Canterbury.

On a day when 58 overs were lost to rain, Kent limped on from 24 for one to lose a further seven wickets for only 78 runs as Martin Bicknell bagged three and Azhar Mahmood four.

Having lost Ed Smith (0) in the fifth over of the innings to a slip catch by Ali Brown, Kent reached 43 before suffering their next casualty four overs after the re-start to spark a steady string of dismissals.

Alex Loudon reached 18 with three fours before he followed a Bicknell leg-cutter to edge low to Mahmood at second slip.

Bicknell then pegged back Michael Bevan’s off stump for seven as the Australian left-hander pushed inside a leg-cutter to give Bicknell three for 53.

In amongst all the trouble David Fulton went for his shots to score a 72-ball half-century, but then Mahmood got in on the act from the Nackington Road End to leave Kent deep in trouble.

Fulton (57) was late on an attempted pull shot and top-edged to slip, Matthew Walker (3) was caught on the crease and bowled by an in-ducker that plucked out off stump and Niall O’Brien (20) feathered a lifter to give Jonathan Batty his first catch.

Bicknell was then replaced by Tim Murtagh, who joined in the fun by having Matt Dennington (3) caught behind off an away-swinger before the rain arrived again at 5.25 force another interruption.

Surrey took up the attack again at 6.05 and soon enjoyed another success through Mahmood who plucked out Min Patel’s off stump as he worked across the line of a good ball.

Mahmood, who conceded most of his runs through or over the slips, ended the day with four for 29.