Worcestershire Take Early Control After Bowling Kent Out for 238

Worcestershire took the early advantage against Kent in their County Championship Division Two match at Canterbury, dismissing the hosts for 238 before reaching 80-2 at the close of the opening day. BBC Sport’s report, supplied by the ECB Reporters’ Network, said the visitors ended Wednesday 158 runs behind with eight first-innings wickets remaining.

Watch the highlights:

Worcestershire won the toss and chose to bowl under overcast skies at the St Lawrence Ground. Ben Allison struck in the fourth over when England opener Zak Crawley edged to second slip for six. Adam Hose initially failed to hold the chance cleanly but recovered to complete the catch before the ball reached the ground.

Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond provided the main resistance with 52, while Sam Northeast made 43 and Chris Benjamin contributed 40. Tawanda Muyeye also scored 37, but the home side lost its final five wickets for 25 runs after reaching 213-5 during an afternoon disrupted by rain and bad light.

Tom Taylor finished with 3-55 for Worcestershire. Allison, Matthew Waite and Adam Finch took two wickets apiece, while wicketkeeper Henry Cullen completed five catches. The combined effort from the visitors’ seam attack prevented Kent from building a larger total after several batters had made starts.

Kent fast bowler Hasan Mahmud then revived the contest by taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Worcestershire captain Jake Libby was dismissed for 18 before Rehaan Edavalath fell without scoring, leaving the visitors 26-2 in the sixth over of their reply.

Dan Lategan and Hose stopped the slide with an unbroken partnership of 54. Lategan reached stumps unbeaten on 35 from 71 balls, with Hose 24 not out from 38 deliveries, as Worcestershire closed on 80-2 after 20.5 overs. The result of the first day gave Worcestershire three points and Kent none, with the visitors holding the stronger position but still needing to erase a 158-run deficit.