On a rain-affected opening day of the Vitality County Championship at Canterbury, Kent reduced Hampshire to 213 for 7 by stumps. Matt Parkinson led the charge with 3 for 31, while George Garrett chipped in with 3 for 60, making the most of challenging conditions at the Spitfire Ground. Hampshire’s James Vince top-scored with 88, with Liam Dawson contributing 31.
With no play possible before lunch, Kent won the toss and opted to bowl, taking full advantage of the overcast, windy conditions. A local fan remarked that if Kent couldn’t bowl out a side in such conditions, they never would. While Kent sits at the bottom of the division, this day was one of their better performances in red-ball cricket this season.
Fletcha Midleton was the first to fall, bowled by Garrett for 8 after misjudging the line. Joey Evison struck with his second ball to dismiss Toby Albert for 11, who played onto his stumps. Vince and Nick Gubbins then steadied the ship, adding 83 for the third wicket before Garrett claimed Gubbins for 24, caught behind.
At 15:10, with deteriorating light, tea was taken with Hampshire at 135 for 3. Conditions improved after the break, but Ben Brown was dismissed for 9 after attempting a hook shot off Garrett, caught by Evison. Vince, having reached 77, survived one chance when Joe Denly dropped him at midwicket, but Denly made amends with a brilliant diving catch off Vince's attempted drive against Parkinson.
Parkinson later removed Liam Dawson, who edged Charlie Stobo at second slip for 31. Harry Finch missed a stumping opportunity to dismiss James Fuller on 1, but made up for it by catching Fuller six runs later off a sharply turning delivery from Parkinson.
As light faded once more, play was called off at 17:47 with 11 overs left to bowl.