Northamptonshire finished Day 1 all out for 303 against Kent, after a fluctuating innings in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at Canterbury.
Emilio Gay struck a superb 112 after the visitors lost Ricardo Vasconcelos to the first ball of the day, Ryan Rickelton continued his strong showing for Northamptonshire with 55, but having reached 205 for two, they lost their next eight wickets for 98 runs.
The 170th Canterbury Festival began with the temperature already over 25 degrees in the shade and in the day’s least surprising development, Northamptonshire chose to bat after winning the toss.
The pitch, however, didn’t look benign early on. Vasconcelos went first ball when he was caught behind off Quinn and Rickelton and Gay then endured a tricky hour, during which the scoreboard moved at just over two an over. Both fought through however, and as the session ground on, the runs came more freely, leaving the visitors on 95 for one at lunch.
An elegant cover drive off Milnes took Rickleton to 50 just after the restart, but he then edged the same bowler behind.
It was otherwise a session of few chances. Luke Procter was dropped at leg slip when on 12 off Linde and Gay reached his century with a glanced two off the same bowler, but he fell in the penultimate over before tea when he nailed a rank longhop to the man at midwicket. It ended an excellent knock from the Bedford born batsman who recently renewed his contract with Northamptonshire. The opener looked in sublime touch as compact defence and impressive timing saw him stroke 18 boundaries in his career best 112.
Northamptonshire went to tea in a strong position at 206 for 3 but Denly struck again soon after the resumption, getting one to hold on Procter who’s leading edge made it back to the bowler, Jack Leaning then bowled Rob Keogh behind his legs for six.
The new ball accounted for Josh Cobb who went for nine, crunching a short and wide Milnes delivery straight to Compton at point.
Milnes then found some extra movement from the new ball as he swung one through Neesham, Quinn enjoying the same sharp movement when he bowled Lewis McManus for four.
Ben Sanderson’s counter attacking 23 from 18 balls took Northamptonshire to within striking distance of a third batting point before he fell to a juggling catch by Billings. Jack White found the cover boundary to secure the point but Linde wrapped up the innings by bowling Simon Kerrigan for seven with what would be the final ball of the day, leaving Jack White unbeaten on six.