KENT finally disposed of Warwickshire century-maker Ian Bell - but his downfall was largely of his own making.

With his score on 121, Bell went back to cut Alex Loudon against the spin and paid the price as the ball turned in to take off stump and end his 204-minute stay.

Nevertheless Bell's ton has helped the Midlands county establish a good position on the first day in this Frizzell Championship clash.

Batting first on a bright, yet showery day in the second city, Warwickshire recovered from 29 for two to reach 234 for four only to lose Bell to the last ball before tea.

The hosts lost both openers soon after a 40-minute break for rain and then Jonathan Trott, who went following a second interruption in mid-afternoon.

Having won his ninth toss out of 12 Warwickshire skipper Nick Knight reached a fluent 18 but, in trying to force through the off side against Ian Butler, he dragged on to make it 22 for one.

In his next over Butler acheived some additional lift to find 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 Trott (50) in an attractive third wicket stand that added 138 in 26 overs.

The partnership ended in Min Patel’s third over when Trott, the ball 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 and an unbeaten 96 in four weeks, duly reached his sixth century of the summer and the 10th of his career 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.

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