Ben Dawkins and Sam Northeast both hit centuries as Kent dominated the first day of their Rothesay County Championship game with Durham at Beckenham.
The hosts posted 385-4 with 19-year-old Dawkins hitting his maiden first-class century, finishing on 180 not out, and Northeast making 141.
Their second-wicket partnership of 303 was Kent’s highest for any wicket against Durham.
“Obviously, it’s very pleasing,” said Dawkins. “Batting with Sam Northeast was amazing and to put up the record partnership was really pleasing.
“I always enjoy batting here at Beckingham, but there is something in the wicket and I found it quite hard to drive.
“Credit to Durham, they came out with a second new ball firing.
“I’m very lucky here at Kent that there’s quite a lot of senior batters, Northeast, Crawley, Tawanda, and Deebs are all amazing and they share so much, so to bat with Sam in the middle is a great learning experience.
“I’ve got a few 60s and actually spoke to (Adam Hollioake) last week about trying to convert them into bigger scores. I loved it so far. Just to be around the group and the dressing room has been so good.
“It’s a very unfortunate (Ben Compton being injured) because he’s one of our best batters for sure. I’m just trying to give it my best go. It’s a very good opportunity for me to try and not take his place, but put my foot down and try and get on to the team.”
Although England captain Ben Stokes dismissed Zak Crawley for 30, Division 2 leaders Durham struggled in the field, dropping both Dawkins and Northeast before they reached three figures. However, they dragged themselves back into the contest with three late wickets as Ben Raine ended with figures of 2-72.
Crawley struck two boundaries in the opening over after Kent chose to bat. He looked like he was getting the better of Stokes, driving him through the covers for four and then producing a straight drive that flew to the boundary, but having made 30, he then hit him straight to Matthew Potts at cover.
However, Dawkins moved to fifty when he pushed Kasey Aldridge for three and Kent reached 115-1 at lunch.
Dawkins was on 63 when he edged Raine, but David Bedingham missed an easy slip catch, while Northeast was on 73 when he tried to drive Aldridge but was put down by Raine at backward point.
Dawkins was the first to cash in, edging Aldridge for four through the vacant slip cordon to reach three figures and Kent were 247-1 at tea.
Northeast, who rejoined the county during the winter, subsequently took a single from Aldridge to bring up his first century for Kent since September 2017, when he made 110 in a draw at Chester-le-Street.
Dawkins drilled Stokes through mid-wicket to bring up his 150, but the stand was finally ended by the second new ball when Northeast edged Raine to Ben McKinney at slip.
Kent’s previous record second-wicket stand against Durham was a surprisingly low 109, made by Neil Taylor and Mark Benson at Canterbury in 1992. Their previous record partnership for any wicket was 197 between Taylor and Carl Hooper in the same game.
Northeast’s departure sparked a mini-collapse as Kent lost three wickets for four runs in less than four overs.
After waiting the best part of five hours, Tawanda Muyeye nicked off to Potts and was caught by Aldridge for one, before Daniel Bell-Drummond also went for one, caught at gully by Alex Lees off Raine.
Dawkins, however, survived through to stumps, alongside Chris Benjamin, who will resume day two unbeaten on six.
Stokes bowled 13 overs, taking 1-70, with bowling coach Graham Onions stating afterwards: “He’s just been a little bit poorly, but he’s fine. He’s just not been very well.”
Report via ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
