Hampshire bowlers toil in opening Championship match at Canterbury

Hampshire's bowlers toiled at Canterbury when on a good wicket Kent amassed 340-2 in 84 overs on the opening day of the Frizzell County Championship.

Robert Key and David Fulton shared a record opening stand for the first wicket of 266, a record for the home team against Hampshire. The stand delayed by a 75 minute break for rain.

Key in particular was punishing with an array of shots all round the wicket, passing his century with ease, before a mixup between the two led to Key being run out. An accurate throw from Mullally breaking the partnership after tea.

Fulton fell two short of a well deserved century, when he skied an attempted pull to Tremlett off Zimbabwean Johnson.

With a good forecast for Saturday, Kent will be looking to emulate the first day of the 2001 season when the strode past 500 against Middlesex.