County Championship: Hampshire batters stumble against Kent on day one

Kent reduced Hampshire to 213-7 at stumps on the first day of their County Championship Division One match at Canterbury.

Matt Parkinson took 3-31 and George Garrett 3-60 as the hosts exploited the conditions at the Spitfire Ground.

James Vince hit 88 for the visitors, but their next highest scorer was Liam Dawson, who made 31.

No play was possible before lunch, but Fletcha Middleton was soon bowled by Garrett for eight, playing the wrong line.

Joey Evison then removed Toby Albert with his second ball for 11, playing on, before Nick Gubbins joined Vince. They put on 83 for the third wicket before Gubbins was caught behind off Garrett for 24.

When the light deteriorated, tea was taken at 3.10pm, with Hampshire on 135-3. Conditions improved significantly after the restart but Ben Brown tried to hook Garrett and was caught by Evison for nine.

Vince was on 77 when he pulled Evison to mid-wicket and although Joe Denly could not take the catch, the former England man atoned with a brilliant diving one-handed grab when Vince tried to drive Matt Parkinson through cover.

Parkinson then got Liam Dawson for 31, caught by Charlie Stobo at second slip, but Harry Finch missed a chance to stump James Fuller when he was on one.

However, he only added six more when Finch took his chance at redemption, grabbing a violently turning ball from Parkinson.

With darkness encroaching once again, play was eventually abandoned for the day at 5.47pm, with 11 overs remaining.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network.