A STYLISH century from Ian Bell and steady contributions from Warwickshire’s middle-order helped the champions elect take first day control of their Frizzell Championship match with Kent at Edgbaston.

On a bright, yet showery day in the second city, Warwickshire recovered from 29 for two to reach 338 for four by stumps on a day when 18 overs were lost to rain.

Bell was the class act of the day, posting his sixth century of the summer and his fourth in five championship innings - his other score was an unbeaten 96 - as the Bears made Kent pay for wayward bowling and a dropped catch.

As can often be the case for a fielding side, the two rain interruptions worked in Kent’s favour as they broke through after both stoppages, but otherwise Warwickshire looked focussed and remain on course for their first title since 1995.

Having won his ninth toss out of 12, Warwickshire skipper Nick Knight had no hesitation in batting, but an 11-over break for showers led to his demise soon after noon.

Having reached 18, Knight tried to force through the off side against Ian Butler but dragged the ball on to make it 22 for one.

In Butler’s next over additional lift found the outside edge of Mark Wagh’s bat for a regulation catch to keeper Niall O’Brien.

The championship leaders then re-grouped courtesy of Bell and Jonathan Trott (50) in an attractive third wicket stand that added 138 in 26 overs either side of a second, shorter rain interruption.

The partnership ended in Min Patel’s third over when Trott, soon after reaching his 71-ball half-century, pushed forward to one that lifted, left and took the outside edge for O’Brien’s second catch.

Bell, the PCA cricketer of the month for July after scoring three centuries in four weeks, duly reached his 10th career hundred from 120 balls and with 19 fours.

Strangely, it was Bell’s first time past 50 in championship cricket at Edgbaston inside a year and only his second ton at the Birmingham Test venue.

After stroking 23 fours and with his score on 121 Bell went back to cut off-spinner Alex Loudon against the spin and paid the price when the last ball before tea turned in to take a bottom edge and then off stump to end his 204-minute stay.

Dougie Brown, having been dropped at mid-wicket by Matt Dennington when on 16, reached 49 by the close as he and fifth-wicket partner Michael Powell (77) continued to pick off the runs at will in an unbroken ventury stand over 31 overs.

With power to add on day two, Warwickshire appear certain to post a 400-plus total for the 10th time in successive championship first innings.

For the second game running Kent fielded a hugely inexperienced seam attack without the injured Martin Saggers (knee) and Amjad Khan (ankle).

They were at least boosted by Butler’s return from a thigh injury and a decent showing from rookie Rob Joseph, but Matt Dennington and Ben Trott again proved expensive as Kent leaked 20 boundaries in a 22-over first session.

Things tightened up slightly thereafter, but Butler appeared hampered by a problem with his left knee that restricted his approach and duties in the last two sessions.

Kent Skipper David Fulton used eight bowlers in a bid for more wickets, eventually turning to left-arm wrist-spinner Michael Bevan, who has a Test best bowling return of six for 82, five overs from the day’s end.

With so many injuries and absentees the county handed 12th man duties to 18-year-old academy player, Yohan Malcolm.

The 18-year-old from Beckenham, who bats right-handed and bowls off-spin for Eltham College, made a brief appearance as substitute fielder for Joseph.

Kent: Fulton, Smith, Loudon, Bevan, Walker, Dennington, O'Brien, Patel, Trott, Butler, Joseph.