Kent enjoyed a successful first day of their LV= County Championship season as they picked up maximum batting points at Leicestershire.

All out for 406, Kent piled on the runs on the first day, but may even feel their batsmen could have inflicted even more pain on the home side had more of the batsmen continued after getting decent starts. With the exception of last man in Charlie Shreck, who finished unbeaten on 6, everyone reached double figures, eight making at least 25. Brendan Nash, Geraint Jones and Matt Coles all made half centuries, though none were able to reach three figures.

An inexperienced, injury-hit Leicestershire attack was further depleted when Matthew Hoggard had to leave the field with a recurrence of an ongoing hip injury, having bowled only five overs. Kent took full advantage however, moving themselves into a strong position for the rest of the game.

In his first match as captain, James Tredwell lost the toss and his side was asked to bat first. All-rounder Calum Haggett was given his debut in a team chosen to exploit the seam-friendly surface at Grace Road. Some had expected highly rated young batsman Daniel Bell Drummond to be given a start after his century against Cardiff MCCU last week, though his opportunity will surely come sooner rather than later this season.

Having been inserted, openers Sam Northeast and Rob Key made a good start, scoring freely and in little trouble, former captain Key impressing in particular, scoring quickly. The first wicket was something of a surprise to all when a mix-up between the pair led to Northeast being run out at the non-striker’s end for 15, the first wicket down with the score on 39.

Key looked in good nick without the burden of captaincy, and had made 41 when he attempted a pull of Robbie Williams, succeeding only in picking out Shiv Thakor at long leg, leaving the score at 83-2.

Brendan Nash, batting at three, and Mike Powell then saw the visitors through to lunch, but both fell not long after the restart. Powell went first, in similar fashion to Key, holing out to long leg where seamer Williams took an impressive catch off the bowling of Ollie Freckingham.

Freckingham then trapped Brendan Nash lbw in his next over, Nash falling a ball after reaching a 61-ball half-century, Kent wobbling slightly at 147-4.

Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones came together at the crease and put on 44 before Stevens edged spinner Jigar Naik to former Kent wicket keeper Niall O’Brien on 27. Captain Tredwell then joined his vice captain at the crease and was run out by Williams for 13, his side 207-6.

Leicestershire may have sensed an opportunity to dismiss Kent relatively cheaply, but the Kent lower order had other ideas. Matt Coles joined Jones at the crease having made a century in Kent’s opening game of last season, and the pair took the attack to the home side in some style. They put on 104 together in less than 20 overs, both passing 50 as Kent moved onto 311, before Coles was stumped off Naik for 59 from only 63 deliveries.

Jones fell six runs later, top-scoring with 67, lbw to Naik, and at 317-8 few still would have thought that Kent would reach the 400 needed to take five batting points at the first time of asking this season.

Debutant Haggett and, in particular, Mark Davies, who scored 41 from just 44 balls, picked up where Jones and Coles and left, though, adding 68 before Davies fell with Kent at 385-9.

Last man in Charlie Shreck joined Haggett, and together they helped Kent reach 400 before Haggett was the last man out for 40, the innings ending on 406 at stumps.

After piling on the runs at a more than healthy 4.32 per over, Kent will hope their bowling attack can prosper tomorrow and strengthen the visitors advantage built up today.

 

LV= County Championship match, Grace Road:

 

Leicestershire: Thornely, O’Brien (WK), Eckersley, Sarwan (C), Cobb, Boyce, Thakor, Naik, Freckingham, Hoggard, Williams.

Kent: Northeast, Key, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones (WK), Tredwell (C), Coles, Haggett, Davies, Shreck.

Close of play on Day 1: Kent 406 all out (Jones 67, Coles 59, Nash 50; Naik 4-97).