Kent (113-6) counting on opener Ben Compton after Middlesex tear through top order on day one of County Championship Division 1 clash at Lord’s

Ben Compton remained defiant while Middlesex made light work of the rest of the Kent top order on day of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 match at Lord’s.

Compton was the only Kent player to enjoy any degree of success, batting through for a patient undefeated 38, when bad light and rain curtailed play midway through the afternoon session with the visitors struggling on 113-6.

Ethan Bamber spearheaded a potent bowling performance with three wickets. Seamer Bamber, who caught the eye with a six-wicket match haul in last week’s win against Nottinghamshire, impressed again with 3-26 to give the home side an early advantage.

He was backed up by player-coach Tim Murtagh, who collected the scalps of England opener Zak Crawley and Sam Billings, while Tom Helm was unlucky to remain wicketless after a fiery spell of bowling.

Kent head coach Matt Walker reckons his side require a lead close to 200, and then need to take a leaf out of Middlesex’s book with the ball.

“We’d like to have bowled,” he said. “We knew it was going to be pretty overcast, we knew there was rain coming in and the wicket had a green tinge, so good conditions for bowling.

“The pace of their bowlers suited that wicket nicely, they bowled good lengths and it showed - get the ball in the right areas and it’s not easy to score.

“I don’t quite know what a good score is first innings on that wicket, but if we can fight hard to get to somewhere near 200, I think that keeps us in the game. Then we’ve got to bowl how they bowled and show that consistency we haven’t quite shown over the last couple of weeks.

“I thought we played really nicely in that first hour and Compo was holding the fort nicely - playing the same innings you see week in, week out