FRUSTRATION reigned, or rather rained, throughout much of the opening three days of the county championship season as players and supporters from Gloucestershire and Kent sat and twiddled their thumbs in Bristol.

There was no play in the dark and dismal West Country on Sunday,and little prospect of a result after rain ruined each of the opening two days restricting play to just 55 overs.

Only 31 overs were possible on Friday as the hosts made faltering progress to reach 140 for five having been invited to bat by Kent skipper David Fulton.

In ideal swing bowling conditions Martin Saggers produced a pace bowling masterclass to bag three for 18 in his 10 overs, including a wicket from the very first ball of the match.

The England bowler plucked out Phillip Weston's off stump after the former Worcestershire opener pushed out hesitantly at a full-length ball to start the season with a golden duck.

In stark contrast, Amjad Khan opened up with a wayward opening burst from the Ashley Down End full of no balls and leave alone deliveries, before switching ends to dispose of Matt Windows (11) leg before with a in-ducker that the right-hander elected to shoulder arms at.

Craig Spearman looked untroubled in reaching 27 but he too gave up his wicket by slapping a casual drive into the hands of debutant David Stiff.

Captain Fulton, happily back in the slip cordon following last season's eye injury, pocketed two stunning catches to help Saggers send back Tim Hancock and Alex Gidman.

Three breaks for rain and bad light led to the loss of three-quarters of the opening day leaving home skipper Chris Taylor to battle through to stumps on 35.

Though reasonably happy to have claimed five wickets, Fulton was left seething by his bowlers, Khan and Stiff in particular, who conceded 42 extras, some 28 of which were no balls.

To make matters worse for Fulton, he had seen Alamgir Sheriyar miss out on the wicket of Spearman having also over-stepped the popping crease.