Another song in the Key of life

Kent had the edge after the first day of their LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan in Cardiff produced 14 wickets and 374 runs.

The visitors totalled 309 after winning the toss and choosing to bat in the Division Two contest, before restricting the hosts to 65 for 4 in reply.

Kent were given a rousing start by Rob Key and Sean Dickson, who put on 122 for the second wicket, after Michael Hogan had dismissed Daniel Bell-Drummond with the eighth ball of the morning.

Dickson, who was born in South Africa but has an English mother, was offered a contract by Kent after some impressive performances for the second team - and he scored 56 with an array of attacking strokes before being dismissed in the final over before lunch.

Key, who made a career-best unbeaten 270 in Cardiff six years ago, was in sight of a second century in successive games, but was out for 94 when he edged David Lloyd to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.

Key and Sam Northeast strengthened Kent's position with a stand of 85 for the third wicket, before Northeast, who had previously been dropped twice in an over, edged Hogan to Wallace.

The visitors were in a commanding position at 212 for 2 - but they then lost their last eight wickets for 97.

Most of those runs were scored by Darren Stevens, who struck a six and 10 fours in a belligerent innings of 64 off 61 balls but received little support - four of the last five batsmen failed to score.

Hogan started the Kent collapse after tea when he took a wicket in his first three overs, part of a spell of 3 for 5 in 14 balls.

After their strong start Kent would have been disappointed with their total of 309 - but their bowlers soon made inroads by dismissing Glamorgan's openers in the first two overs.

With Jacques Rudolph in South Africa on paternity leave, and Will Bragg dropped, Glamorgan opened the innings with James Kettleborough, who has not played championship cricket since May, and Jeremy Lawlor - making his championship debut.

Matt Coles squared up Kettleborough with his fourth ball, then Lawlor was bowled by Matthew Hunn playing down the wrong line.

When Colin Ingram and Lloyd were dismissed in the closing overs, Glamorgan had slumped to 65 for 4.

It left Kent satisfied with their day's work on a good pitch prepared by assistant groundsman Robin Saxton, who is now temporarily in charge after Keith Exton left the club last month.