Kent made heavy weather of dismissing Sussex at Hove and that after heavy showers had washed out the morning session preventing a second-day start to this LV Championship match until 2.45pm.

Resuming on their overnight score of 213 for seven the hosts were all out for 303 in 100.1 overs, but Sussex were indebted to their former England keeper Matt Prior for an excellent century that took them beyond 300 and to a third batting bonus point.

Sussex lost their first wicket after 19 overs' play when Ragheb Aga edged an attempted push drive against Ryan McLaren to Geraint Jones to bring an end to an eighth-wicket stand with Prior worth 76 in 22 overs.

Prior reached the 16th first-class ton of his career and his fourth against Kent from 169-balls and with 12 fours but, soon afterwards, he too nicked to Jones to give Azhar Mahmood - his first wicket for Kent.

The innings ended soon afterwards when Chris Liddle (4) drove wildly at a full-length ball from McLaren to lose his off stump.

McLaren finished with two for 30, Joseph two for 63 and Arafat four for 88.

Kent will start their innings after the tea interval.