KENT’S rookie off-spinner Alex Loudon returned career-best bowling figures of five for 53 to turn the opening day at Southgate on its head.

Middlesex appeared set for a 400-plus total after a Ben Hutton century and stylish 60 from Owais Shah eased the hosts to 285 for four.

But Loudon’s 17.3 over burst, broken only by the tea interval, inspired a collapse that saw Middlesex lose their last six wickets for 66 runs.

Helped by an athletic catch by debutant Michael Bevan and two sharp efforts by Matthew Walker at short leg, 23-year-old Loudon hit a purple patch of four for nine in the space of 24 balls.

Min Patel conceded four sixes earlier in the day, but bounced back with the wickets of Hutton and Paul Weekes (45) to finish with two for 106.

With just two overs remaining, Kent’s openers made it through to the close without alarm to go into the second day of four in good shape.