Another disappointing first day has left relegation-threatened Kent with a mountain to climb in their County Championship Division 1 game against Essex at Chelmsford.
The hosts, steered by opening batsman Sir Alastair Cook, put themselves into a commanding position by the end of Wednesday’s play, with Essex 106-0 after the visitors had been bowled all out for 207 in two short sessions.
Only a sedate 58-run fourth-wicket partnership between Ben Compton, who recorded an 81-ball 47, and captain Jack Leaning (27) interrupted a regular clatter of wickets, with nagging seamers Sam Cook (3-19) and Jamie Porter (3-47) sharing six of them equally.
Kent batsman Tawanda Muyeye survived a decent chance to Matt Critchley at third slip before he was beaten for pace to present Cook with his first on 21.