LOCAL lad Simon Cusden bagged both wickets to fall on day one of Kent’s championship finale against Middlesex.

The visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat first as Kent's final Frizzell Division 1 match of the summer, reached 114 for two at lunch after a first session tinged with controversy and wayward bowling.

Kent went into the match without both overseas players as well as fast bowlers Martin Saggers and Amjad Khan, who pulled out with knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Rob Joseph and Ben Trott duly shared the new ball and were later given support from rookies David Stiff and Simon Cusden, who suffered mixed fortunes.

Canterbury-born Cusden made the breakthrough in the 16th over of the day having Sven Koenig (39) caught behind after edging a flashing, back-foot force.

But at the other end Stiff suffered a young bowler’s nightmare, sending down seven no balls and a wide in his opening six overs.

Cusden thought he had two when Ben Hutton, with his score on 16, edged a low catch to Niall O’Brien, but the batsmen refused to walk and the umpires John Steele and Michael Harris, remained undecided as to whether the ball had carried.

Justice was seemingly done six balls later when Hutton, without addition, top-edged a hook shot to O’Brien running back toward fine leg.