Four batsmen made half-centuries as Kent put Sussex to the sword on day one of their Specsavers County Championship match at Tunbridge Wells.

On what looks an inviting and batting-friendly wicket, Sean Dickson (81), Joe Denly (78), Sam Northeast (75*) and Darren Stevens (51*) scored well as the hosts finished the day in a strong position on 310/3.

Kent brought in Callum Jackson and Imran Qayyum – Jackson in to keep wicket against his former side due to the absence of both Sam Billings (international duty) and Adam Rouse (injured).

Experimenting with the line-up with Daniel Bell-Drummond also missing on England Lions duty, Adam Ball, who has opened this season for the second XI, came in at the top of the order with Sean Dickson, as Kent won the toss and elected to bat. However, it didn’t pay off for the hosts as Ball edged an off-drive off Chris Jordan to Ross Taylor at first slip to go for a duck in the second over.

With the ball offering little joy to the visitors off the pitch or through the air, new man Denly and Dickson moved the scorecard on steadily if not rapidly, and after the first hour of play Kent were 39/1.

As the second hour wore on Dickson brought up Kent’s fifty with a shot straight down the ground, and had helped his side to 85/1 at lunch, with neither Dickson, on 40, or Denly, on 35, looking troubled; well set for a positive afternoon session.

With the lunch interval came an unexpected covering of cloud over The Nevill Ground, and as the players returned to the field for the afternoon session there was certainly a gloom around. It didn’t deter Kent’s batsmen though as in particular Dickson picked up a flow of runs after the break.

Shortly after lunch, the South African-born bat brought up the hosts’ hundred, and then showed his quality by slog-sweeping into the hospitality tents for six for the innings’ first maximum. The boundary also brought up Dickson’s fifth first class half century, coming off 113 balls including five fours and that six.

Despite runs coming more freely to Dickson, Denly was getting a little bogged down as he sat on 46* for three or so overs, but after getting off that with a single, he then scored a boundary through the third man area to bring up his own fifty, from 150 balls with four fours).

Kent were moving on well in the afternoon session as Dickson and Denly both found opportunities to score with relative ease as the pair brought up and shared a substantial partnership of 150.

As the session headed toward the tea interval the hosts brought Stu Whittingham back onto the attack; the seamer’s first delivery earlier in the day having been a head-high beamer, causing Denly to take evasive action – and he brought good fortune for the visitors.

Facing a ball just short of a good length, it appeared to stop on Dickson, who could only loop the ball to Beer at point. He fell for 81, leaving the score 164/2 shortly before the tea break.

As the tea interval arrived, Whittingham served up an inconsistent and fairly wild over at Denly; the Kent man facing two no-ball bouncers and a knee-high full-toss, finishing the over with a glorious four through the leg-side. After a less eventful final over by Beer, Denly (75*) and Northeast (9*) saw Kent through to tea on 190/2.

Into the evening session, and with glorious sunshine over The Nevill Ground, Whittingham and Denly’s head to head battle recommenced but unfortunately for Kent, the bowler was the winner. Denly, on 78, skied one, with Taylor taking his second catch in the innings, this time in the outfield, to leave the score 199/3.

With some in the ground worried by a lack of depth in the Kent line-up, with Sam Northeast and Darren Stevens at the crease it was perhaps key for both Kent men to set themselves and put on good scores. They made it so as they put on a fifty partnership, and ended up taking their side through to the close without further loss.

Northeast continued his great form this season to bring up a sixth County Championship half century of the campaign. After a four through the leg-side, he dabbed a ball again to the leg-side for a simple single, bringing up the milestone from 77 balls, including four fours.

As the day came to a close Stevens edged a ball through the slip cordon in turn bringing up the hosts 300 (301/3), another batting bonus point and a century partnership between Kent’s veteran all-rounder and captain Northeast.

Despite the close of play near Stevens still had time, in the final over, to bring up his fifty, and with that and seeing out the remaining balls of the day the hosts finished the day 310/3.

With the weather set fair for Tunbridge Wells week and Kent’s batsmen well set tomorrow could be an intriguing day as the hosts will look to pile on more runs and if back in the field will look for wickets.

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Kent v Sussex at Tunbridge Wells, Jul 17-20 2016:

Kent 310/3 (Dickson 81, Denly 78, Northeast 75*, Stevens 51*)  lead Sussex by 310 runs with seven first innings wickets remaining.

Full scorecard available here.

Kent: Dickson, Ball, Denly, Northeast*, Stevens, Blake, Jackson†, Rabada, Tredwell, Claydon, Qayyum

Sussex: Nash, Finch, Wells, Taylor, Wright*, Brown†, Jordan, Beer, Briggs, Magoffin, Whittingham

Pictures courtesy of Sarah Ansell Photography.