Both Alex Blake and Scott Newman starred with the bat for Kent on the opening day of their three day game with Oxford MCCU at The Parks.

Blake was in imperious form as he fell just three runs short of a century, whilst Newman was equally combative as he hit 89 as Kent posted 251 for 8 declared with Oxford MCCU closing day one on 50 for 2.

A much changed Kent side took to the field for the game with Rob Key, Brendan Nash, Darren Stevens, Geraint Jones, James Tredwell, Matt Coles, Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck all rested.

Sam Northeast kept his place in the side in Key’s absence and was rewarded for recent good performances by skippering the side and had no hesitiation electing to bat having won the toss.

However, it wasn’t to be the most memorable innings for Northeast as he fell fourth ball with the score on just three with number three Mike Powell in and out for a brisk twelve before being bowled by Kent colleague Ben Kemp who is at Oxford University.

Wicketkeeper Sam Billings came and went too for just three leaving Kent in trouble at 41 for 3, but Newman and Blake were to put on 117 runs for the fourth wicket.

Both looked comfortable at the crease as they put the Oxford MCCU attack to the sword with Newman going on to hit eleven boundaries in his 135 ball stay, whilst Blake showed the potential he has by working the ball around nicely whilst picking up fours at regular intervals.

Newman eventually fell for 89, trapped lbw by Indian off spinner Sam Agarwal, with Ben Harmison coming in at six and giving Blake the support to take the score past two hundred.

Harmison went with the score on 220 for 21 and Blake was to follow shortly after, agonisingly close to a well deserved century.

Both Daniel Bell-Drummond and Fabian Cowdrey hardly troubled the scorers as batting became difficult for Kent with Adam Ball and Simon Cook seeing them past the 250 mark before Northeast elected to declare.

There was still time for 17 overs before the close with Adam Ball picking up two quick wickets, reducing Oxford MCCU to 12 for 2 at one point, but they recovered to close the day on 50 for 2 with Ben Williams (19 not out) and Charlie Walker (20 not out) seeing them through to stumps.

Oxford MCCU side: S Agarwal, F Coleman, B Williams, C Walker, B Stebbings, F John, D Pascoe, B Ashfaq, D Conway, B Kemp, D Gordon.

Kent side: Scott Newman, Sam Northeast, Mike Powell, Sam Billings, Alex Blake, Ben Harmison, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Fabian Cowdrey, Adam Ball, Simon Cook, Dan Masters.

Umpires: Nigel Duguid & Richard Illingworth.

Kent won the toss and elected to bat

Close of play day one: Kent 251 for 8 declared, Oxford MCCU 50 for 2.