Kent failed to build on early wickets on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship game with Gloucestershire at Canterbury.
Centuries from Aussie debutant Cameron Green and James Bracey saw the visitors to 365-7 at the close.
Nathan Gilchrist took 5-61 for Kent, who won the toss and elected to field first, but they were dealt a blow after losing Grant Stewart to injury.
Gilchrist got Cameron Bancroft for just two, lbw trying to play across his pads, but Ollie Price was on one when he edged Grant Stewart. Keeper Harry Finch pulled out of the catch expecting it to carry to first slip and it fell short.
Ben Charlesworth went in the next over, lbw to Gilchrist, but Kent’s already cursed bowling unit then suffered another blow when Stewart pulled up injured midway through his seventh over.
Jas Singh had Ollie Price lbw for 18, to a ball that looked like it might be going down, but Green and Mike Hammond rebuilt the innings and it was 96-3 at lunch.
Hammond looked poised for his half-century, only for Singh to rip out his off stump for 48, but that was the highpoint of the afternoon session for the hosts. Green never looked troubled and he pushed Jack Leaning for a single to mid-off to reach his half-century.
It was 225-4 at tea, after which the visitors continued to dominate, although they were given another life when Bracey was on 67. He edged Leaning to first slip but Daniel Bell-Drummond put down a regulation chance.
By the time Green was into the nineties he seemed to be suffering from cramp and was visibly struggling to take singles. When he drove Joey Evison for one he made it to the bowler’s end before collapsing to the ground and retiring.
Gilchrist was the only bowler who really looked like taking a wicket and he dragged Kent back into it late in the evening session. He got Graeme van Buuren lbw for 19 with the new ball and Tom Price leg before for eight with a full toss that hit him on the shin. Matt Taylor made eight when he gloved a short-pitched delivery to Finch, but Josh Shaw made it to stumps on 18 not out and with Green available to return if needed, Gloucestershire could yet bat deep into day two.
Gilchrist said: “It’s definitely not disappointment, I think the wicket’s not as bowler-friendly as it was last week, the ball was still moving around a little bit but it was much harder work so it gives us confidence because we know with our batting line-up we can get ahead of them.
“There’s been a few things I’ve been working on over the winter – getting my body in the right place for the start of the season but I think it’s more the mindset and the approach for the start of the season, just having a bit more of a balanced lifestyle and enjoying things outside of the game, which gives perspective, which is the biggest thing.
“I’m just trying to enjoy every game and not put too much pressure on myself. Me being a taller lad I try and get the ball up there, so the ball’s going to be able to move around and that’s one thing I pride myself on, trying to get the stumps in play as much as possible.
“I had four lbws so it’s pleasing. When the wickets are a little more bowler friendly you need the ball to be close to the stumps.”
Report from ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
