Glamorgan dominated day one of their Rothesay County Championship at Canterbury, reaching 389 for seven after Asa Tribe made a career-best 94.

Colin Ingram and Ben Kellaway then put on a stand of 133 for the fifth wicket before the former went for 70. Kellaway was unbeaten on 91 at stumps.

Kashif Ali took four for 75 to keep the hosts in it, but overall Kent were well below par, bowling 28 extras and putting in a sub-optimal fielding display after winning the toss and choosing to bowl.

The wicket looked green but conditions were variable, a fierce north wind making it feel several degrees warmer on the Old Dover Road side of the ground, where a number of fans were wearing shorts, than it was on the opposite side, where the view was better but spectators were shivering.

In front of a crowd of over 1,000, Kashif made an early breakthrough when he got Zain ul-Hassan caught at first slip by Tawanda Muyeye for 16. That, however, was Kent’s only success in a near chanceless morning session that was summed up when Tribe swept the final ball, a rank Jack Leaning full toss, for four, leaving Glamorgan on 128 for one at lunch.

Sam Northeast had looked well set on his return to The Spitfire Ground, but he was out soon after the resumption, edging Grant Stewart to Tawanda Muyeye for 42. Stewart, however, was denied a second wicket in his next over, when keeper Chris Benjamin missed a simple chance to get Tribe caught behind for 56.

The session was drifting when third slip Daniel Bell-Drummond pulled off an outstanding one-handed grab to remove Kiran Carlson for 16 after he flashed at Kashif.

Tribe was six runs shy of a maiden century when he played on to Matt Parkinson, but Ingram dumped Parkinson back over his for six and reached 50 when he edged Leaning through the vacant second slip area.

Kellaway took a single from Parkinson to reach his half-century and it was 271 for four at tea, after which Parkinson grew so exasperated when a half-chance didn’t carry that he threw his cap on the floor, earning a reprimand from the umpires.

The new ball immediately did for Ingram however, Kashif getting him caught behind after a lengthy discussion between the umpires, who agreed he’d gloved the ball and the Pakistan overseas player got his fourth wicket with a beauty that ripped out Chris Cooke’s off stump for 15.

Timm van der Gugten joined Kellaway and had moved to 17 when he was out to the fourth ball of the final over, lbw to George Garrett.

Glamorgan’s Asa Tribe said: “It’s always good to contribute to the team and personally myself I felt good out there today so yeah, I’m happy.

“Kellaway has been in some unbelievable form and Colin got some runs as well, but it’s always nice contribute to the team and it shows that hopefully Glamorgan’s got a bright future.

“I think we were going to have a bowl as well so I’m not surprised that they put us in. There’s plenty of grass on the wicket so I’m not surprised they made that decision. There was enough in there for the bowlers when they got it in the right areas (but I don’t think they probably hit the right spots they kind of wanted to at the star but I definitely think there was something to offer.

“I’m more than happy (with his consistency.) I would like to make those three figure scores which I’m sure will come but I’m just happy to contribute in that kind of way.

(On combining cricket with his studies in sports analysis) “It’s been a busy period, I managed to get a few (assignments) done, including one on the bus on the way to Canterbury. It’s all going well at the moment and I’ve got two more to go so it should be a busy week, but I’m happy with where it’s at at the moment.”

Kent’s Ekansh Singh said: “I was told yesterday that I was going to play (he made his first class debut today). I was playing for the seconds at Beckenham and was pulled off the field and that’s when I was told I was going to play. I got a call and then headed straight from there to Canterbury.

“He (Hollioake) just said that I’d been batting really well in the second team and that my time would come eventually and I just needed to be patient. And that’s what I was doing.

(On getting his cap from Joe Denly)“He made quite a few jokes but he’s helped me the last couple of winters with the academy. He’s slung at me in the indoor centre and he’s been very helpful with me, it’s quite nice to learn from someone like him who’s got England experience as well. It was nice to have him present my cap and the words were special today.

“It was really special especially as this has been my home since under-11s as well so to cross the rope for the first time was really special. My idol’s always been Jacques Kallis so I want to be a cricketer like him.

“Obviously they got off to a good start but I thought we pulled it back really well. It could have been easy for them to be three or four down but we showed a lot of grit and a lot of fight to get them seven down at the end of the day.”

Picture supplied by Nick Dillam.