Felix Organ celebrated his maiden first-class century as Hampshire ended day one of their Specsavers County Championship fixture with Kent slightly on top.

Academy graduate Organ, on just his third Championship appearance, showed a delightful mixture of defensive resolve with a pinch of flair to score exactly 100.

The 20-year-old Sydney-born Organ, part of Hampshire’s fresh opening partnership, enjoyed sizeable partnerships with fellow opener Ian Holland and middle-order Rilee Rossouw – who both collected half centuries of their own.

But despite Hampshire bossing the day, evening wickets with the second new ball gave Kent rewards for their toils – as the hosts ended the day on 340 for six.

With James Vince and Sam Northeast away with England and England Lions respectively, Kyle Abbott stood in as Hampshire’s captain.

And the South African fast bowler won the toss and elected to bowl on an almost identical track to the one they scored 539 on against Warwickshire last week.

Hampshire appear to have stumbled across two young openers, in Holland and Organ, in the wake of Joe Weatherley’s fractured ankle.

The new-look top order worked against Warwickshire a week ago, when Holland churned out his first professional hundred. But this was Organ’s turn to prove his worth.

Together they saw off the new ball with relative ease, neither offering a chance, with Holland playing a series of glorious off-side shots.

While Holland played with a glimmer of attacking intent, Organ curbed his aggression – with his wicket prized more importantly than runs in the morning session.

American-born Australian Holland followed his century a week ago with a 74-ball fifty.

But he fell, after a 92-run stand for the first wicket, when he edged Harry Podmore to Sean Dickson at first slip.

In the next over, Ajinkya Rahane, on his last outing as Hampshire’s overseas player, drilled a cut shot powerfully to point only to see Daniel Bell-Drummond produce a stunning low catch.

That mini-wobble would have worried the Hampshire dressing room, who had elected to bring in Mason Crane as an extra bowling option in the absence of batsman Northeast.

But they needn’t have worried as Organ and Rilee Rossouw eased up and down the gears in a 166-run partnership.

Organ’s innings was particularly curious as he reached his half-century in 158 balls, but with three sixes to his name.

At one point his strike-rate dipped below 20 to hint at a watchful vigil but had a penchant for the odd attacking shot meant there was plenty of entertainment on show.

Rossouw showed maturity in his innings to restrict his usual swashbuckling efforts, leaning on his timing rather than raw power to lift his bat on an 80-ball fifty.

The South African passed his highest score of the season but his departure, caught well at first slip attempting a reverse sweep, saw three wickets fall for 22 runs in five overs.

Among the collapse, Organ ran the happiest three of his life to reach three figures in 234 balls; his enthusiasm was matched by a loud reaction from the crowd.

But next ball he nibbled outside off stump and edged behind before Gareth Berg was bowled two balls later – handing Darren Stevens two wickets in an over with the second new ball.

Aneurin Donald furnished the evening session with an eye-catching quick-fire 40, but before he could match the heights of his 225 runs at a rate of 118 last week, the Welshman mistimed a pull and saw Joe Denly run back from mid-on to amazing hold onto.

Keith Barker and Lewis McManus saw Hampshire to close without further troubles.

Hampshire batsman Felix Organ:

“It was awesome.

“I remember the first game I played here and I got a massive clap when I scored a run and thought ‘oh my word this is awesome, I’ve only scored one run’ then today getting a hundred was the best feeling ever.

“I don’t usually play in front of this many people!

“I’ve played here since Under 9s and it all builds up to this. This is what I practice and play for.

“It all comes into one moment of relief, slash this is so cool.

“You always hope that it will happen but after last week, despite only scoring one, I thought I can do this.

“Batting with Dutch is easy because he scores quite quickly which means I can just bat, which is the same with Rilee. When they score with good pace it means you can hold in there and take your time.

“I learnt from last week that they are going to bowl well and know I can’t let pressure get to me and play a booming drive, but against spin I didn’t want to stay in and block it. It was about 30 blocks and then a big slog!

“It was a good day but there was a spell with the new ball where it looked like we could have ended up being under 400 for a lot less wickets in hand.”

Kent assistant coach Allan Donald:

“It’s an absolute peach of a wicket.

“They played very well, we took half-chances magnificently. I’m proud of how we stuck at it.

“That first hour tomorrow is key to bowl them out quickly and get batting.”