County Championship: Worcestershire on top after strong start with Kent

Kent’s decision to bat was surprising and though England opener Zak Crawley settled well, batting watchfully, he lost two partners in the first hour.

Hannon-Dalby’s opening spell of 7-3-7-1 included the wicket of Ben Compton, caught by Ethan Brookes at second slip for four, and Swanepoel struck with his 15th delivery for Worcestershire which trapped Sam Northeast lbw for three.

When Crawley (27) edged to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick in Matthew Waite’s first over, three wickets had fallen in 29 balls.

Tawanda Muyeye and Daniel Bell-Drummond eked out 37 from 21 overs but Kent hit serious post-lunch turbulence.

Four wickets fell for 24 runs in 46 balls, triggered by Bell-Drummond (23) offering no shot at Swanepoel only to see the ball arrow in to knock out leg-stump. Hannon-Dalby produced perfect outswingers which Muyeye (19) and Chris Benjamin, four, edged to the ‘keeper. Joey Evison, dropped on five, one of three chances grassed by Adam Hose at first slip, reached only 14 before falling lbw to Waite.

That was 99-7 and Kent badly needed ballast. Milnes and Dudgeon supplied some with a composed and sensible stand of 50 in 14 overs.

Swanepoel returned to oust the latter lbw and Matt Parkinson soon edged Tom Taylor behind for a duck but Milnes and last man Michael Cohen (11) added 41 before the latter edged Brookes to supply Roderick’s fifth catch of the innings.

Dan Lategan launched Worcestershire’s reply with a flurry of six fours in the first five overs. He then edged Milnes to third slip in search of a seventh boundary but it was a valuable cameo of 25 from the 19-year-old.

It gave the innings early impetus on which Libby built with characteristic compactness to post a 67-ball half-century.

Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.