Skipper Sam Northeast says it feels like Kent’s season is finally off and running after ending a near two-year wait for a Championship win at Canterbury.

Kent breezed to a 10-wicket victory against Glamorgan on Wednesday, claiming maximum points in their first win of the season to shoot up the Specsavers County Championship, Division 2 standings.

The win was built on foundations of solid bowling – especially with Matt Coles’ involvement limited by a foot problem – and century stands in either innings from new-look opening pair Daniel Bell-Drummond and overseas signing Tom Latham –the first time Kent players have done so in the championship in 62 years.

Northeast said: “It’s a good start at home. Our record at Canterbury is something we’ve talked about in detail. We have not been good enough over the past couple of years.

“We have had a lot of practice out there, getting used to the slope, batting and bowling, but it was a good cricket wicket so congratulations to (groundsman) Simon Williamson and the team for that.”

Kent’s start to the season was hit by the washout at Worcester and a weather-affected draw at Leicester and Northeast admitted: “It’s nice to get off and running. It does feel like the season has properly started now. It’s exciting.

“We have another game coming up this week – Gloucestershire from Sunday (11am) – and hopefully we can carry on where we left off.

“There is still some stuff to work on but we are in good spirits and playing well.”
The Worcester abandonment still rankles with Northeast, especially as the ECB dismissed suggestions that the pitch was unfit for play.

Northeast claimed it would be ‘nice to see an appeal process’ and admitted: “We do feel a bit hard done by, We were disappointed by the outcome there.I do feel positive after this week but that does still hang over me.”

On the brighter side, Latham averages 132 after his debut and Bell-Drummond averages 168 after five First Class knocks and Northeast admitted: “They looked great out there, Deebz is in great nick and it bodes well for us. Tom’s a calm head and presence and he has a good cricket brain. The lads feel good about having him there.”