KENT cricketers Min Patel and Sam Northeast made contrasting starts to their respective overseas tours this week.

Veteran left-arm spinner Min Patel who has yet to decide his future with Kent, hit 109 from 101 including 15 fours and a six for the Club Cricket Conference side in Australia.

Patel’s century helped the tourists reach 313 for nine in 50 overs against a Clare Invitational XI in South Australia, who were then dismissed for 184.

Meanwhile, Northeast the 18-year-old from Walmer near Deal, one of two Kent players on the England Under-19 trip to Sri Lanka, played only a minor role in a warm-up game in Colombo ahead of a tri-nations event with Pakistan and Sri Lanka Under-19s.

The Harrow School pupil hit just 17 as England amassed 318 for six to win the rain-affected game by 12 runs under the D/L method.

Though selected, Kent’s other youngster on the tour 17-year-old James Goodman from Bromley Common, played no part in the game but will hope to feature later in the tour and especially once the squad arrive in Malaysia for the Under-19 World Cup starting on February 17.