Four-day cricket returned to The County Ground, Beckenham and with only two games remaining promotion remains a very real prospect for Kent.

With an uncontested toss the hosts were invited to bat first on a warm and muggy early-September morning by the 2016 T20 Blast Champions Northants.

Kent were forced into a single change from their recent innings victory against Sussex at Hove with wicket-keeper Sam Billings on England duty – Callum Jackson returning behind the stumps for the first eleven – Although Billings is available to return to the team and the game for days three and four.

Daniel Bell-Drummond (16*) and Sean Dickson (16*) opened and saw the side through the opening hours play with little trouble (35/0) and as the clock turned to midday the pair looked well set (48/0; DBD 17*, Dickson 28*).

Shortly after Dickson leg-glanced a ball fine for a boundary which brought up the hosts fifty and in turn the opening pairs fifty partnership.

Despite being untroubled throughout the morning session Kent succumbed as the visitors were rewarded for a solid and patient display in the field with two wickets before the lunch interval.

Northants’ wicket-keeper benefited taking two catches as Bell-Drummond (20) edged Ben Sanderson (59/1) and then with only two balls remaining before lunch Joe Denly (0) somewhat inexpicably repeated Bell-Drummond’s error this time off the bowling of Steven Crook (66/2).

With the loss of Denly the players took lunch with Dickson 41* – To be joined by Kent captain Sam Northeast after the break in play.

However the pendulum looked to have turned as the visitors looked to add to their wicket-tally late in the morning session.

Northeast (9) returned to the pavilion, once again Murphy taking the catch, this time off the bowling of Azarullah (85/3) and before Kent’s captain probably had time to change new batsman and evergreen all-rounder Darren Stevens (0) was soon back in the pavilion edging his first-ball to Rob Keogh in the slip corden (85/4).

New batsman, loanee left-hander Will Gidman, survived the hat-trick ball driving past the bowler for two runs.

With opener Dickson on the verge of his half-century he survived a strong leg-before shout off the bowling of Kleinveldt (48*) before securing the two runs required (121b, 7×4; 92/4) whilst Gidman soon after struck a boundary for the hosts to bring up one-hundred (102/4; Dickson 54*, Gidman 8*).

With the introduction of spin Dickson (63) succumbed holing out and hitting a Keogh full-toss straight to Alex Wakely at mid-on (117/5).

Inevitably with the regular loss of wickets for the hosts, Kent fell into a period of consolidation during the afternoon session – Runs were at a premium as Northants strangled the hosts to force an error and midway through the afternoon Kent’s sixth wicket fell as stand-in wicket-keeper Jackson (0) flashed at a Crook delivery through the offside but struck the ball straight to substitute fielder Zaib at Point (122/6).

Gidman (29*) and new batsman James Tredwell (12*) guided Kent through to the tea interval safely, the hosts 145/6.

Resuming after tea the hosts lost out early on as Tredwell (12) was given out leg-before to Kleinveldt (146/7) and with Matt Coles at the crease he immediately got in the runs glancing a ball through the off-side for four in turn bringing up one-fifty for Kent.

Coles followed up that opening ball faced with more quick runs via the boundary rope whilst also registering Kent’s first maximum with a mighty blow over long-off and was somewhat fortunate soon after going big once more – Without getting enough bat on it the ball rose high and straight to Ben Sanderson at long-on but the Northants man dropped it with the Kent man on 25.

With Coles playing a cameo role for the hosts and scoring quickly, at the other end Gidman was moving on nicely albeit not as extravagantly. The loanee in three previous innings for Kent was yet to lose his wicket in turn scoring three half-centuries – Last time out marooned 99* at Hove versus Sussex.

And more was to come as Gidman cut a ball through the off-side for two to bring up a fourth half-century in a row (95b, 6×4), Kent’s two hundred and a batting point, The latter crucial in the promotion chase to hunt down the twenty-four point deficit to leaders Essex.

However Northants succeeded where may have failed as upon reaching his half-century as Gidman lost his wicket (51) caught by Kleinvedt off the bowling of Graeme White (201/8) – Gidman’s average for the season a somewhat exaggerated 283.

Meanwhile Coles continued to move along swiftly and with an array of run-scoring strokes brought up a half-century of his own in fortuitous fashion off only forty-one balls including six fours and two sixes, Azarullah missing the chance of a catch at mid-on.

The danger with such elaborate and daring shot-making runs the risk of losing your wicket and so it proved to be as, much like Gidman before him, Coles wasn’t able to convert the fifty into a more mighty score caught by Richard Levi off the bowling of Kleinveldt (52; 224/9).

New overseas signing Hardus Viljoen struck his first ball for four however that proved to be his only shot-scoring stroke as he edged Kleinveldt to White in the slips to see an end to the hosts’ innings, 230ao (Claydon 4*).

With eleven overs remaining in the days play Kent looked for some early joy with Coles and Stevens given the responsibility with the new ball however Coles went for runs whereas despite Stevens proving economical, the Northants openers offered nothing.

Captain Northeast made a change with South African paceman Voljoen and it almost paid dividends as his first ball was lofted into the air but sadly for Kent no Kent fielder was close enough to take the catch.

With the light deteriorating as the days play reached a close Northeast was invited to take Viljoen and Stevens from the attack and for the remainder of the day Tredwell and Denly were given the baton to get the eagerly awaited breakthrough, without success.

Kent will be hoping for early successes on day two – With Essex not playing until next week there is a chance to put pressure on the leaders. Missing out on some valuable batting points on day one, it is key Kent pick up maximum bowling points and push on for another victory later in the match.