RAINSTORMS left the Edgbaston outfield under water and ensured there would be no play on day two of Kent's penultimate championship match of the season against Warwickshire in Birmingham.

Umpires George Sharp and Graham Burgess held a cursory pre-lunch inspection, but it was only a matter of time before they abandoned play for the day.

Kent, weakened by injury and without both overseas players, edged Wednesday's opening day in reaching 358 for seven against a Warwickshire attack that clearly lacked a cutting edge.

Joe Denly, who plays Kent League cricket for Sittingbourne-based Gore Court, top-scored with 86 on this season's championship debut as he, Martin van Jaarsveld, Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones all reached half-centuries.

Denly, selected ahead of former skipper David Fulton, batted three hours and hit 17 fours in his first, four-day appearance since Kent's fateful match at The Mote last June, where he failed twice against Gloucestershire on a pitch that was later deemed unsatisfactory for first-class cricket.

Denly made a nervy start with a thick edge through the slips and two boundaries that flashed over the cordon, but thereafter he showed the composure that has helped him reap 616 runs at an average of 62 in this summer's 2nd XI championship.

He featured in stands worth 56 with Key (25) and 132 in 32 overs with van Jaarsveld before succumbing to Warwickshire's bouncer ploy soon after lunch.

Van Jaarsveld posted his 12th half-century of the season only to nick a lifting leg-cutter to go for 79 then, two overs before tea, Matt Walker (19) went leg before to Alex Loudon's quicker ball.

Jones and Stevens added 57 in 21 overs before the second new ball accounted for Stevens (61), then Neil Dexter for a first-ball duck.

After hitting a carefree free half-century Jones chased the final ball of the day to be caught behind.

SCORECARD

Kent first innings

J L Denly c Tahir b Carter 86
R W T Key lbw b Carter 25
M van Jaarsveld c Ambrose b Tahir 79
M J Walker lbw b Loudon 19
D I Stevens c & b Streak 61
G O Jones c Ambrose b Cater 50
N J Dexter b Tahir 0
J C Tredwell not out 18

Extras 20

Total 358 for seven after 104 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-56, 2-188, 3-209, 4-249, 5-306, 6-318, 7-358

Bowling: Tahir 20-1-90-2, Streak 22-5-55-1, Carter 25-4-105-3, Harris 22-4-52-0, Loudon 13-0-37-1, Ali 2-1-8-0.

Bonus points: Warwickshire 2pts, Kent 4pts.

* Mark Pennell's day three report will appear here at the close of play on Friday.