James Fuller took five for 21 as Hampshire dominated the first day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Kent at Canterbury, skittling the hosts for just 95 before reaching 89 without loss at stumps.

Kyle Abbott also starred for the visitors, claiming three for 23.

Tawanda Muyeye was the hosts’ top scorer with 28, but Kent collapsed from 94 for six, losing their last four wickets for a solitary run in the space of 15 balls.

Fletcha Middleton and Joe Weatherley were not out at stumps, on 39 and 38 respectively and the visitors trail by just six, with all 10 first innings wickets remaining.

A pregnant skyline greeted the sides at the Spitfire Ground and to the surprise of precisely no one, Hampshire chose to bowl after winning the toss, cashing in almost immediately. Ben Compton went without scoring, edging Mohammad Abbas to Weatherley in the slips and Zak Crawley made just seven before he was lbw to Keith Barker, for his 500^th first-class wicket.

Muyeye, back in the side after a scoring a glut of runs for the second XI, looked more at home, but after a typically attractive 28 he was lbw to Fuller.

Kent announced before the start of play that Sam Billings was playing as a specialist batter, with Jordan Cox keeping wicket. The official reason to allow him to concentrate on his batting after a run of sub-optimal scores, but it did little to improve his luck. With rain already falling he was lbw to Fuller for two, to the eighth delivery he faced. With Kent floundering on 56 for four, Cox emerged from the pavilion but the rain then became too heavy for the umpires to ignore and play didn’t resume until 3.58pm.

By then conditions had improved but batting didn’t appear any easier. Cox scratched out 12 before Fuller had him caught behind and Joey Evison was next, leaving a Fuller delivery that clipped the top of his off stump.

Jack Leaning at least offered some resistance, hanging around for 96 balls until Abbott had him caught by Liam Dawson at second slip for 24, but when he went the tail was wiped out.

Grant Stewart became Fuller’s fifth victim when he was caught behind for 14 and Hamid Qadri was out for a five-ball duck, driving Abbott to Barker at mid-on.

A dismal innings concluded when Wes Agar was caught by Ben Brown off Abbott for nought. Kent’s joyless day was encapsulated Weatherley nicked Agar behind when he was on 29 and Cox failed to hang on to a routine chance.

Hampshire’s Keith Barker said: “It was a brilliant day, we couldn’t have asked for a better start really. I thought I could get away with it (coming back sooner than expected after injury) and I’ve missed playing so it’s good to be back.”

On getting 500 wickets: “It was a long time coming! I took two in the first game and then nought against Surrey so I was just waiting and waiting. It’ good to get it, good that the umpire got his hand up early and it was a good day for us. All the bowlers got wickets, which was nice. James bowled really well and we got ourselves into a great position.

“I was very happy with it (the 500^th). You always want an early wicket to settle yourself and being on 499 for the last few weeks it’s safe to say it’s been on my mind a bit. I can’t think of many highlights, but I remember the first few games. I think it was my third of fourth game when Graeme Welch arrived and I was averaging 208 with the ball. I had one wicket and I was averaging about four with the bat, so I never thought I’d get to this stage! It’s been a good few years.

“You don’t expect it, it’s not something I was chasing, you just keep doing what you’re doing and it ends up happening. I’m obviously really happy but it’s more important that we’re having a good game. “I hope I get a few more, if I stopped on 500 I’d be a bit worried, but I’m happy and if I can get some more in this game and the following games that’ll be great.”

Hampshire’s James Fuller said: “It was nice to come down that hill with a bit of wind behind me. We got a few early wickets and got their leading run scorer (Compton) out and Crawley as well, so that sort of takes the pressure off.

“It was bowling with a slightly newer ball and it was swinging around, so it was nice. I had Mo Abbas and Barker at mid off telling me what to do ‘swing this one in, swing that one out, bowl a bumper here!’

“To be honest I felt pretty horrible for most of my spell, coming down the hill. You hardly had to run in, it was the weirdest feeling just trotting in. It does help in a way because you can just give it all at the crease.

“It looks like it was a good toss to win. Conditions were in our favour today. There’s been a lot of weather around all season and we were bowling with good overhead conditions and a bit of rain and now the sun’s come and it’s quite nice to play on.”

Kent’s Alex Gidman said; “Clearly it’s been a disappointing first day from our perspective. We played some good cricket here in the first two games here and it’s disappointing to have started the game as we have done so far.

“I think they put us under a lot of pressure early and bowled very accurately. Today we didn’t quite have the skill set to counter it. It wasn’t through a lack of effort or trying, it just wasn’t to be today and I’m sure the guys will be doing their utmost to learn from today and react in the second innings.

“It certainly nipped around early on and the Hampshire bowlers got everything they could out of the wicket. They bowled particularly well and perhaps the heavy roller and the sunlight this evening made a difference, but again it wasn’t through a lack of effort, we just didn’t quite get the same out of it perhaps. It just wasn’t quite our day today.

“Tawanda has been literally smashing the door down, his form in the second XI has been amazing with three hundreds and a 90 so he thoroughly deserves his place in the team. I thought he looked very comfortable and was well worth the runs he got. I’m delighted for him and certainly the way he slotted in was a real positive.”