Adams leads from the front

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Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams led a bold recovery after two wickets had fallen in the first three overs of the LV= County Championship Division Two match with promotion rivals Kent at the Ageas Bowl.

Adams made 91 and shared in a stand of 116 for the fourth wicket with Liam Dawson as Hampshire recovered to 292 for nine at the close of the first day.

Adams had chosen to bat first under overcast skies on a green-tinged wicket and had cause to regret his decision as Kent struck two early blows.

Charlie Shreck had James Vince caught behind by Geraint Jones with the fourth ball of his first over and then Bilal Shafayat departed without scoring, deceived by a leg-cutter from Mark Davies.

Simon Katich helped Adams repair the damage from nine for two by taking the score to 67 before Shreck struck again, claiming the Australian veteran leg before for 32.

Opener Jimmy Adams led by example with 91 as his Hampshire side recovered from nine for two to 292 for nine against visitors Kent at the Ageas Bowl

Only then as the sun came out did Hampshire get on top of the Kent bowling while Dawson and Adams put together their crucial stand in 39 overs.

Adams was within sight of his 15th first-class century when he edged Darren Stevens to wicketkeeper Jones to end a 191-ball innings which included 12 fours.

Dawson was out soon afterwards for 51 with the total on 189, snared by Davies in the deep off spinner James Tredwell the ball after reaching his half-century.

Tredwell accounted for Michael Bates, sixth out at 206 before Hampshire rallied in the evening session.

Sean Ervine, Dimitri Mascarenhas and David Balcombe all took advantage of an easing wicket to add useful runs before the close.

Matt Coles dismissed Ervine at 226, but Mascarenhas and Balcombe put on 50 for the eighth wicket as Kent struggled to contain them.

However, Davies and Shreck came back with the new ball, Davies removing Mascarenhas to another catch at the wicket to leave Hampshire on 276 for eight.

Then, without addition to the score, Shreck picked up his third wicket of the day when he bowled Balcombe, who spent some of last season on loan at Kent, for 28.

Danny Briggs and last man James Tomlinson saw out the remaining six overs to leave the match with honours even.

Shreck took 3-85 to be the pick of the Kent bowlers while Davies claimed 3-36 and Tredwell finished the day with 2-56.

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