Kent recovered from losing three wickets in the opening session to have the better of proceedings on the first day of their County Championship Group C clash at Northamptonshire on Thursday.

Skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond was quickly followed back to the pavilion by England internationals Zak Crawley and Joe Denly as Kent were reduced to 38-3.

Opener Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning led the recovery and Ollie Robinson was closing in on a century only to fall five overs before the close of play for 84 as Kent recovered to finish the opening day on 309-7.

That total looked a long way off after those early wickets amid a tight opening session of bowling from the hosts. Bell-Drummond got the first runs of the season through third man but was soon trapped in front for nine by Ben Sanderson.

Crawley survived a close leg before shout from 40-year-old Gareth Berg but went the next ball, driving to a full ball he got a nick to wicket-keeper Adam Rossington to depart for 14.

Berg then bowled Denly through the gate for just one and it needed Cox and Leaning to rebuild the innings.

Cox showed plenty of resolve to make 62 but was caught at deep mid-wicket by Emilio Gay off the bowling of Nathan Buck having put on 89 for the fourth wicket.

Leaning and Robinson progressed the score to 225 until the former departed just after tea, caught behind by Rossington off the part-time bowling of Gay.

Robinson was the most fluent of the Kent batsman, hitting 12 boundaries in his 123-ball 84, but he - like Cox - was caught at deep mid-wicket, trying one attacking shot too many to Buck to leave Kent 296-6.

Grant Stewart made just five before he was bowled by Buck, the ball nipping back in to clip off stump as he shouldered arms.

Darren Stevens remained not out at the close and he’ll resume in the morning with Matt Milnes in the middle alongside him.

Leaning said: “We had to rebuild a bit after a couple of good poles. The pitch is a really good one and as soon as the ball got slightly older there wasn’t so much nip.

"It's not the kind of attack you can just go after. Northants try to grind you down and you have to play them at their own game a bit

"I was hoping we could bed in for a big stand again. We are all a bit disappointed not to go on and score a hundred.

"In terms of Robbo I think that’s the best I’ve ever seen anyone strike the ball from ball one. As for Coxy, to come through those early wickets and play like that shows a lot of character."

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