KENT lost two crucial wickets after lunch but remained in good shape on the opening day of their championship clash with relegation threatened Northamptonshire.

Batting first in ideal conditions at Canterbury, Kent reached 266 for three after 59 overs having just lost England batsmen Rob Key and Ed Smith.

The pair posted a stylish 142 for the second wicket in 26 overs before both gave up their own wickets.

Smith, on 70 from 88-balls, steered a loose ball from Ben Phillips to backward point then, three overs later Key holed out to long off against Graeme Swann.

That bought together Matthew Walker and Alex Loudon, but Loudon had scored just one when David Sales dropped a sharp slip chance off Phillips.

Earlier, Key reached his fifth championship century of the summer from 118 balls, while Fulton (57) reached his 1,000th first-class run for the summer.