KENT’S batsmen failed to build on solid foundations in the county’s opening pre-season match of the new cricket campaign.

The club’s scheduled two-day friendly at Northamptonshire’s Wantage Road ground started well for the visitors as opening batsmen David Fulton and Rob Key posted 90 for the first wicket after Fulton elected to bat first on Tuesday’s opening day.

Fulton, who was hampered by eye and finger injuries for much of last season, looked somewhere near back to his best in scoring 39 from 75 balls, while Key cracked nine fours in his top-scoring innings of 64.

Ed Smith who, like Key, has also been overlooked by the senior England squad this winter, also batted with fluency driving seven straight fours in his 49.

But after that Kent tailed off with only understudy wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien (26) making the only other contribution of note leaving Fulton to declare 40 minutes into today's second day on 201 for nine.

With Alamgir Sheriyar hampered with a groin injury, Fulton took the opportunity of taking a closer look at his only close-season signing David Stiff.

The six feet seven inch Yorkshire Academy recruit was expected to come on as first change after new ball pairing Martin Saggers and Amjad Khan.

Khan had one leg before appeal turned down against Tim Roberts in his opening over, but otherwise the hosts made a steady start in reaching 13 without loss after five overs.

Kent squad: Fulton, Key, Smith, Walker, Carberry, Louden, O’Brien, Tredwell, Patel, Saggers, Khan, Stiff, Dennington.