RAIN was the only thing that prevented Ed Smith from marking his comeback to Canterbury with a half-century on the opening day of Kent’s crucial championship clash with Middlesex.

The former St Lawrence favourite hit a typically graceful 40 from 109 balls to help his new county reach 92 for one when showers halted play after lunch.

Having named an unchanged side for the fourth successive Frizzell Division 1 clash, Kent’s attack struggled to make an impression despite overcast and bowler-friendly conditions as Middlesex elected to bat first.

It did not help the home cause that Smith, when on 11, was dropped at the finer of two gullies by Andrew Hall off the bowling of former Middlesex seamer Simon Cook.

Kent’s one success came when Ben Hutton lost his off stump to an Amjad Khan leg-cutter, but in-form Smith then teamed up with Owais Shah (34) in an unbroken stand of 61 that took their side though to lunch and the rain that followed.

Play was finally abandoned for the day at 4.30pm.

SCORECARD

Middlesex first innings

E T Smith not out 40
B L Hutton b Khan 10
O A Shah not out 34
Extras 8

Total 92 for one after 36 overs (rain stopped play)

Bowling: Khan 7-2-26-1, Cook 10-4-24-0, Hall 5-1-21-0, Kemp 2-0-5-0, Patel 9-5-7-0, Stevens 3-0-7-0.