Hampshire go cheaply in key clash

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Jimmy Adams' remarkable run of form continued with a doughty 84 on a poor day for relegation-threatened Hampshire

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Malinga Bandara returned season-best figures of 4-42 to help Kent edge the first day of their all-important LV= County Championship Division One relegation clash with Hampshire at Canterbury.

The Sri Lanka leg-spinner, who until yesterday had taken only 10 championship wickets for the county at an overall cost of 604 runs, helped run through the Hampshire tail and dismiss them for 204 in 82 overs.

Kent made a miserable start to their reply, losing Sam Northeast for a third-ball duck, but reached stumps on 15 for one with Rob Key and Joe Denly both unbeaten on seven.

Northeast, having endured luckless spells at numbers five and three in the order, opened the innings at his own behest but went with only a run on the board after dragging a Dominic Cork off-cutter on to his stumps.

The day started with Cork winning the toss and taking first use of a sporting pitch that seamed and took spin as early as the first session.

With seven previously selected new-ball bowlers out of contention, Kent captain Rob Key was forced to rely on rookie seamer Matt Coles and the military medium-pace of Darren Stevens to share the new ball.

Neither let Key down as Hampshire limped through to lunch at 68 for three at a scoring rate of barely two an over.

Stevens, who bowled 15 overs on the trot in the first session, made the first breakthrough after 81 minutes when he had former team-mate Michael Carberry caught behind.

Spin then came into the equation before lunch when James Tredwell got one to lift and leave left-hander Phil Hughes to have the Australian caught at slip.

To the last ball before lunch, Bandara found dip and turn away from Liam Dawson for the second of four catches for Martin van Jaarsveld at slip.

Kent kept plugging away in the middle session to bag three more Hampshire wickets for minimal cost.

James Vince made 36, but contributed to his own demise by slashing at a wide one from Coles, Sean Ervine clipped to midwicket to see Northeast claim a fine catch to his right. and Michael Bates worked across the line to be bowled by Simon Cook.

Kent polished off the job within 15 overs after tea and with Bandara to the fore.

Cork missed one slogging to leg to go lbw, then top-scorer Jimmy Adams, having occupied the crease for 222 balls for his 84, under-edged a sweep against Tredwell on to his boot and saw it loop up to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.

Bandara had Chris Wood caught at slip and pinning last man Danny Briggs leg before to mop up proceedings.