Kent began their LV= County Championship Division 2 campaign with an encouraging 57-run win over Essex at Chelmsford on Monday morning.

Sam Northeast was Kent's first innings hero with a superb 112 off 170 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, but he found support hard to come by with skipper Rob Key departing for a second ball duck and his fellow opener Joe Denly (24) and Geraint Jones at five (23) the only others to pass 20.

Paceman Robbie Joseph made a dogged 19 not out on his return to action as the visitors were eventually dismissed for 247 in 70 overs, with former Kent bowler David Masters taking three wickets.

Darren Stevens then produced a superb performance with the ball to put Kent in charge. The all-rounder took 6-60 in 27 overs, accounting for six of the first eight wickets to fall, as Essex were left reeling at 48-6 at one stage.

Simon Cook and Joseph each weighed in with two wickets as Essex recovered to post 201 all-out thanks in large part to a stoic unbeaten 88 by James Foster.

Key bounced back from his disappointing first innings by cracking 61 to start-off the second, with Martin van Jaarsveld adding 63 as Kent progressed to 146-2, however three quick wickets made it 158-5 and despite Stevens' 30, Kent were eventually dismissed for 238.

Chasing 285 to win with more than a day to do it, the hosts began brightly, only for two quick wickets from James Tredwell to interrupt their flow.

Stevens and Joseph then took-over with Stevens adding three wickets to finish the match with nine, and Joseph taking 4-25 to make it six for the match.

Essex were still in with a chance at 161-4 but eventually crumbled from 218-6 to 227 all out.

Pictures: Sam Northeast celebrates his first innings century, while Darren Stevens is in jubilant mood after taking one of his wickets

Darren Stevens picture by Nick Wood (www.unshaken-photography.co.uk)

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