CAPTAIN David Fulton led by example with his second century of the summer, but the loss of five wickets after tea took the gloss off Kent’s day as they closed on 300 for eight against Sussex at Hove.

The 32-year-old right-hander from Larkfield reached the milestone shortly after tea from 220 balls and with 13 fours to fully justify his decision to bat first in ideal conditions.

But apart from Smith, Fulton received fairly patchy support and were left scratching around for the odd single in order to reach 300 and their third batting bonus point of the opening day.

Having been dropped on 45 by Davis at square-leg, Fulton finally went eight overs from the close for a stoic 122 from 283-balls, having tried to advance down the pitch to Mushtaq Ahmed only to be beaten in the flights and gift Matt Prior a simple stumping.

Fulton had seen Ed Smith thwarted in his quest for a second championship century of the summer when he fell for 79.

Having helped post 122 in 35 overs with Fulton, Smith - having just pulled Mohammad Akram for his 14th four - played late and was yorked off stump next ball up to make it 173 for two.

Matthew Walker then teamed up with his former flat-mate, Fulton, to post Kent’s first batting bonus point at 200, but soon after Walker, on 17, edged a back-foot force off spinner Mark Davis into the gloves of keeper Matthew Prior.

After tea Michael Carberry (29) edged to Tony Cottey at slip to be come one of three victims for former Kent 2nd XI spinner Davis, who also had Alex Loudon (14) caught behind.

Mushtaq then followed the wicket of Fulton by bowling Min Patel (2), with one that turned through the gate to peg back leg stump,, then Amjad Khan (0) with a dipping full-length ball that dipped under Khan’s attempted drive.

The only wicket of the morning session came when James Tredwell miscued an attempted pull shot against Mohammad Akram to spoon a simple catch to James Kirtley at mid-on.

Already without Rob Key and Geraint Jones on England duty, Kent were also forced to go into the game without overseas star Andrew Symonds, who has flown home to Australia for treatment on a persistent Achilles tendon problem.

Martin Saggers missed out with patella tendinitus his troublesome right knee that is likely to sideline him from next Wednesday’s game with Middlesex at Southgate. His place went to experienced left-arm swing bowler Alamgir Sheriyar.

Having missed the Twenty20 campaign, Patel returned to the fold and, in Key’s absence, Tredwell was promoted to makeshift opening bat.

Kent: Fulton, Tredwell, Smith, Walker, Loudon, Carberry, O'Brien, Patel, Khan, Butler, Sheriyar.