Kent got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start against Durham in a 50 overs per side game at Canterbury on Monday.

A mixture of youth and experience took to the field for Kent with both sides selecting twelve players for the warm up game with the home side giving a game to Robbie Joseph, some three years after leaving Canterbury.

The fast bowler was named alongside the likes of Mitch Claydon and Matt Hunn with Kent expected to offer the 32 year old a contract in the coming days or weeks.

In the end it was a thoroughly professional performance from Kent as they chased down the 277 set by Durham with two overs and three wickets to spare.

Durham were to post a challenging 276 for 7 in their 50 overs with spinner Adam Riley and Claydon claiming three wickets apiece, whilst Hunn bagged a pair and Joseph was to take one as he looked to impress.

With the target set to test Kent, the openers got off to the perfect start with acting captain Sam Northeast the first man out for 20, whilst a stand of 118 for the second wicket between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Fabian Cowdrey set Kent well on their way.

A flurry of wickets saw Kent lose Bell-Drummond, run out for 61, Cowdrey for 68 and Ben Harmison for 0.

At 160 for 4, there was over 100 runs to get, but Alex Blake and Sam Billings were to add 80 for the fifth wicket with the former eventually falling for a brisk 29.

Adam Ball and Claydon were to fall shortly after as Kent stuttered, but Billings (56 off 44 balls) and Joseph (16 off 10 balls) saw the side home with two overs to spare.

In the end, it was the perfect run out for a Kent side that will take on Durham in two Twenty 20 games at Canterbury on Tuesday with free entry to the public.

They then take on Essex away over two days beginning on Thursday before returning to Canterbury on Monday for the four day game against Loughborough MCCU in their final match before the season opener away to Worcestershire.

Kent: Sam Northeast*, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Fabian Cowdrey, Alex Blake, Ben Harmison, Sam Billings+, Adam Ball, Mitchell Claydon, Robbie Joseph, Adam Riley, Matt Hunn. 12th man David Griffiths.

Durham: Stoneman*, Mustard, Borthwick, Richardson, Pringle, Muchall, Breese, Arshad, Coughlin, Harrison, Rushworth, Poynter.

Umpires: R Ellis & G Hall.

Result: Durham 276-9 (50 overs) Riley 3-36, Claydon 3-43, Hunn 2-42, Joseph 1-43, Kent 279-7 (48 overs) Cowdrey 68, Bell-Drummond 61, Billings 56no.

Kent won by three wickets.

Picture supplied by Sarah Ansell – www.sarahansellphotography.com