Kent dominated the opening day of this four-day county championship match at Tunbridge Wells as they bowled out Essex for 260 and ended the day’s play 68/0 – only 192 runs behind with all first innings wickets remaining.

As the sun shone down on The Nevill Ground it was Essex who won the toss and chose to bat on what looked a good wicket to bat but Kent’s patience early on was repaid later as most notably Darren Stevens led the way taking 4/37 off 23.5 overs.

Kent started well enough and struck twice in the first hour. Opening the bowling at the Pavilion End, Matt Hunn opened his and Kent’s account for the day with the wicket of Jaik Mickleburgh who could only edge the ball to ‘keeper Sam Billings (3, 16/1).

Better was to come as Sam Northeast’s decision to change the bowling and bring on Calum Haggett reaped immediate reward with the wicket of Nick Browne, out LBW, with Haggett’s fourth ball of the day (30, 38/2)

In the run-up to lunch Essex brought up their one-hundred and in the final over before the interval James Tredwell’s first ball was well struck by Ravi Bopara back over the spinners head for six and temporarily lost in the bushes at the Railway End.

Tom Westley brought up his half century with the final ball before lunch as Essex ended the session 110/2.

On what looks a good batting wicket Kent’s bowlers showed great resilience and patience, probing to find the break-through. Darren Stevens at one stage had bowling figures of 9-7-8-0 with the eight runs coming off two Ravi Bopara boundaries.

And the patience of the hosts soon paid dividends with a crucial wicket of Westley as Hunn struck for the second time with a low caught and bowled (77, 149/3)

The visitors brought up their one-fifty but Darren Stevens provided more joy as he tempted Bopara into a wide one, edging to Northeast in the slips (42, 163/4) – It went fast and was well held by the captain.

As tea approached Essex brought up their first batting point of the match but Kent and opening bowler Mitch Claydon responded well with the wicket of Jesse Ryder, hitting straight to short mid-wicket (24, 204/5) whilst ten Doeschate (48no) guided his team to 230/5 at tea.

Shortly after the break ten Doeschate brought up his half century but soon lost his partner and captain James Foster edging Stevens to Billings (6, 240/6) with Stevens and Billings repeating the feat soon after to get the half-centurion (54, 253/7).

Kent’s tight bowling soon served up even more success as David Masters, after clubbing a four through mid-wicket, top edged a Calum Haggett delivery high with no distance which Billings took comfortably (5, 260/8).

Haggett followed Stevens’ lead with two wickets in quick succession as he repeated Hunn’s earlier efforts with a caught and bowled as Graham Napier returned to the pavilion for 11 with Essex 260/9.

Darren Stevens brought additional shine to the days uninterrupted play and ended the Essex resistance as tail-ender Porter edged the all rounder for his fourth wicket (4/37), taken by Billings who in turn took his fifth catch of the innings (0, 260)

A tremendous disciplined performance by the hosts to bowl out Essex after losing the toss earlier in the day.

With twelve overs left to face in the day, Daniel Bell-Drummond and the returning Rob Key opened the Kent reply and did so in positive fashion.

Of particular note Bell-Drummond struck Porter for three boundaries in a row – One off his legs through square leg, the second through Point with the third the best of the lot as he played it off the back foot through Point once again.

Bell-Drummond repeated three-in-a-row to the ropes playing two successively fine on the leg-side off his legs and perhaps fortunately after almost chopping the ball onto his stumps.

Key and most notably Bell-Drummond in playing positive cricket brought up Kent’s fifty in true one-day style, coming off only 41 deliveries (Bell-Drummond 32, Key 15no).

Kent’s openers negotiated the final over without issue with Kent ending the day on top on 68/0, chasing down Essex’s 260 earlier in the day – Bell-Drummond 46no (34 balls), Key 19no.

Speaking at the close, Darren Stevens said: “It was good at the Pavilion End with my wind at my back, at my age you need all the help you can, but at the Railway End it was that little bit tougher,” said the 39-year-old.

“It’s on the slow side, the pitch, but if you stand the seam up, bowl in the right areas and play the patience game you’ve a good chance of getting wickets.

“They were two down at lunch and with Ravi and Westley looking comfortable, but we kept it tight and backed ourselves to bowl as many dot balls as we could and then await the rewards.”

 

Kent: Bell-Drummond, Denly, Key, Northeast ©, Harmison, Stevens, Billings (w), Haggett, Tredwell, Claydon, Hunn

Essex: Browne, Mickleburgh, Westley, Bopara, Ryder, ten Doeschate, Foster © (w), Napier, Masters, Porter, Patel

 

Essex: 260 (Westley 77, ten Doeschate 54, Bopara 42; Stevens 4/37, Haggett 3/54, Hunn 2/78 – Billings 5 catches)

Kent: 68/0 (Bell-Drummond 46no, Key 9no)

 

Kent: 3pts

Essex: 2pts