An unbeaten century partnership between David Sales and James Middlebrook put Northamptonshire in charge against Kent at Canterbury after the first day of their County Championship game.

The pair have put on 157 for the fifth wicket thus far with Sales closing on 104 not out with Middlebrook unbeaten on 57.

They came together with their side in some trouble at 87 for 4 after Kent took four wickets within the space of just 32 runs.

The home side went into the game with just one change to the side that drew with Essex last week with Matt Coles coming back into the side in place of Ivan Thomas after being on England Lions duty.

It was the visitors that won the toss though and former Kent all-rounder Andrew Hall had no hesitation in putting his side into bat first.

The opening pair of Stephen Peters and Rob Newton had been looking comfortable at the crease, despite scoring slowly when Newton took a fierce ball from Matt Coles on his hand and he was forced to retire hurt.

Subsequent x-rays revealed a break to a bone just above his left wrist and he will play no further part in the game, with the Northants opener facing two balls after sustaining the injury before leaving the field with his side on 46 without loss.

His replacement at the crease, Kyle Coetzer last nineteen balls, but put on just three before Mark Davies clean bowled him with the score on 55.

That led to a slight collapse with Peters falling two balls into the afternoon session with Darren Stevens trapping him lbw for 34, leaving Northants on 69 for 2.

It was then down to Charlie Shreck to remove former Kent players Andrew Hall and Niall O’Brien with the former caught by Mark Davies at long leg for 14 and the latter clean bowled for just one.

At 87 for 4, Kent must have felt that they were in with a chance of skittling the side they beat by an innings and 120 runs earlier in the season, but it wasn’t meant to be as Sales and Middlebrook put on their mammoth partnership.

As the sun shone and the wicket flattened out, Northants made full use of a good Canterbury wicket.

Northants won the toss and elected to bat first

Umpires: NGB Cook & NGB Cowley

Kent side: Key, Newman, Harmison, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Shreck.

Northants side: Peters, Newton, Coetzer, Sales, Hall, O’Brien, Middlebrook, De Lange, Willey, Daggett, Brooks.

Close of play day one: Northants 244 for 4 (96 overs)

Picture by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures, visit www.sarahcanterbury.com