Kent v Warwickshire

HAVING tossed away a bright start to a rain-affected opening day of their LV Championship game with Warwickshire in Canterbury, Kent recovered late in the afternoon through fifth-wicket partners Martin van Jaarsveld and Neil Dexter to reach 195 for four come stumps.

Overnight rain and morning mizzle ensured the loss of the opening session and with it 36 overs out of this, the first day of four, but the clouds lifted by 1.55pm when Kent took first use of the pitch having won the toss.

They made the best of starts when Joe Denly clipped the first ball of the game, an in-swinger from Neil Carter, for four through mid-wicket to set the tone for the opening hour.

The home openers looked in no trouble at all in reaching 49 inside 17 overs until third-change seamer Tim Groenewald got one to hold its line from the Nackington Road end, graze Key's outside edge and give Alex Loudon a throat-high catch at first slip.

Denly went into his shell and, without a boundary in 17 overs, aimed a rash drive at Naqaash Tahir only to get an inside edge and offer keeper Tim Ambrose a chance diving to his left.

Reasonably placed at 100 for two come tea, Kent lost two more after the interval and were in danger of throwing away their promising start.

James Tredwell, promoted to four instead of the injured Matt Walker, cantered to 11 from 18 balls only to wander across his stumps against Neil Carter and go leg before.

Then, eight overs later, the lively Tahir had Darren Stevens (6) caught behind when the right-hander failed in his late attempt to withdraw the bat to make it 120 for four.

Kent were in need of some sensible batting and it duly followed in the guise of South African pairing Dexter and van Jaarsveld.

Like the sourcerer and his apprentice, Kent’s fifth wicket duo gradually batted their side back into the game with a stylish, unbroken partnership that added 75 through to the close.

Van Jaarsveld, who posted two tons against Warwickshire on his Kent debut here two years ago, took the lead by playing the ball on its merits with a chanceless 113-ball half-century that he improved to 67 by stumps.

Once accustomed to the slow pitch, Dexter also cashed in with some elegant play, including three fours in one over from Groenewald.

Playing in place of the injured Matthew Walker, Dexter lent on two cover drives to send the ball skimming past the cover point fielder then, when Groenewald dropped short, Dexter rocked back and pulled to the ropes at mid-wicket to see Kent through to stumps with a flourish.

The second day of the match is scheduled for an 11am start on Saturday.

SCORECARDKent first innings

J L Denly c Ambrose b Tahir 36
R W T Key c Loudon b Groenwald 25
M van Jaarsveld not out 67
J C Tredwell lbw b Carter 11
D I Stevens c Ambrose b Tahir 6
N J Dexter not out 37
Extras 13

Total 196 for four after 68 overs.

Fall of wicket: 1-49, 2-89, 3-106, 4-120.

Bowling: Carter 17-2-55-1, Daggett 11-3-31-0, Tahir 11-3-31-2, Groenewald 11-3-34-1, Harris 10-2-23-0, Maddy 6-4-3-0, Trott 2-1-9-0.

Bonus points: Warwickshire 1pt.