County captain Rob Key and winter one-day international tourist James Tredwell gave the England selectors a nudge by scoring centuries against the New Zealand tourists to put Kent in the driving seat after a record-breaking opening day of their three-day friendly in Canterbury.

Kent will go into the second day on 324 for one after 90 overs after a remarkable day of batting in near ideal conditions.

The second-wicket partners added 299 in over two-and-a-half sessions to break Kent’s record stand for any wicket against the Kiwis of 277 held by Frank Woolley and Les Ames that dated back to 1931 – the second time the teams met. It was also the county’s best stand against any touring team.

Tredwell went to his second century for the county with successive fours through backward point against Grant Elliott from 198 balls and with 17 fours and by the close he had reached 123, surpassing his previous highest score in first-class cricket (116* v Yorkshire, Tunbridge Wells, 2007).

Key too was in record-breaking mood. He posted his third successive ton against the black caps, he hit 114 and 117 against them here in 2004, and added to his impressive tally here with a 170-ball hundred that included 16 boundaries.

By stumps Key had reached 178, only 21 short of equalling his career-best score for Kent (199 v Surrey, at The Oval in 2004). This already represents his highest score for Kent against any touring side, beating his 119 against Pakistan in 2001.

This was also Key’s 16th century at St Lawrence ground and his 15th for Kent (his other was for England A) beating Neil Taylor’s record of 14 for the most centuries by a Kent batsman on the ground.

Kent’s only casualty of the day was opener Joe Denly who, after reaching 12, chased a wide, full-length ball off Tim Southee only to see James Marshall at backward point take off to his left and take an excellent one-handed chance.

Key offered only one half-chance, when on 43, when Peter Fulton at second slip palmed away an over-head chance off the bowling of Southee for three runs.

The game resumes on Tuesday at 11am.