Pattinson takes five on debut

Darren Pattinson bowls Matt Walker © Getty Images

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Darren Pattinson got his Nottinghamshire career off to a dream start as Kent were skittled for just 162 on day one of their LV County Championship opener.

The Australian-raised seamer born in Grimsby returned superb figures of 5-22, with Charlie Shreck picking up 4-65, before newly-promoted Notts reached the close on 121 for three.

Pattinson tore into the Kent top order, taking three wickets for just one run in a brilliant 13-ball spell as the home side lost their first four wickets for just 13 runs.

With the exception of captain Robert Key, who played a patient innings of 79, Kent’s batsmen showed early-season nerves as the Notts bowlers achieved considerable ball movement on a helpful pitch after losing the toss.

While Key kept his end up, he lost partners in quick succession. Joe Denly (eight) was Pattinson’s first victim in the sixth over and in the next Kent were 12 for two when Martin van Jaarsveld was bowled first ball by Shreck, who beat him on the front foot with the ball moving away.

It got worse for the home side in the 10th over with two more wickets falling to Pattinson with the the score on 13.

Robert Key plays a lone hand for Kent © Getty Images

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Key and Geraint Jones added 41 and then Azhar Mahmood helped Key in a 45-run stand to spark a mini-revival. Jones’ 21 included four boundaries, three of which he struck in one over off Mark Ealham.

Pattinson, who had played only five first-class matches for Victoria in Australia before this one, was brought back into the attack and he had James Tredwell edged to second slip for one before bowling Ryan McLaren for nought.

Key, meanwhile, had been picking up the runs steadily, he reached 40 with a classic cover drive to the boundary off Shreck and two balls later glanced him for four. In his next over, the Kent captain completed his half-century off 114 balls.

Key hit 13 boundaries, four of them after bringing up his 50, before he finally fell lbw as he went fast forward to a ball from Shreck which straightened a little. Yasir Arafat was last man out for 11.

After Kent were dismissed at tea, their opponents made a poor start in the final session, losing three wickets for 55.

Arafat’s brilliant first eight-over spell gave him 2-16. He trapped Matthew Wood (six) in the seventh over before having Will Jefferson (13) play on to his stumps in the 11th over to reduce the visitors to 30 for two.

After Martin Saggers removed Adam Voges (17) - making his debut as a replacement for David Hussey - Mark Wagh and Samit Patel revived the innings and ended the day not out on 52 and 23, respectively.

Wagh’s half-century had come from 97 balls, and featured seven fours and a six.