Kent close day two on 122-1 in reply to Essex's 514 all out in County Championship at Chelmsford

Kent made a promising start with the bat as they replied to Essex's huge first innings total on day two in Chelmsford on Friday.

Essex resumed the LV= County Championship Division 1 clash at 272-4 and were bowled out for 514 on the stroke of tea before Kent reached 122-1 at the close.

Debutant Ben Compton led the Kent response with an assured 47 not out but he lost fellow opener Bell-Drummond lbw to Sam Cook in the eighth over for 11.

However, Tawanda Muyeye proved a willing partner in the final two hours of play and the 21-year-old finished 43 not out.

The pair were relatively untroubled until the final few overs of the day when Essex's short-pitched approach seemed to unsettle the duo.

Kent are also waiting on news of Joe Denly, who came off the field with a hamstring injury during the Essex innings.

Earlier in the day, Matt Critchley marked his Essex debut with a century. The close-season signing from Derbyshire was finally last man out for 132.

Critchley was finally beaten by an off-break from Muyeye after an innings of sublime timing. In the process he shared stands of 94 with Adam Wheater and 65 with another debutant Adam Rossington.

Conditions were in marked contrast to day one. Gone was the strong wind to be replaced with comparative gentleness. Kent also found some spite and zip in the wicket through Jackson Bird and Matt Milnes.

Tom Westley discovered the veracity of that when he attempted to fend off one from Bird that rose from a length but ended up in the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

Critchley and Rossington grabbed the opportunity to ease themselves in to life at their new home during an eye-catching sixth-wicket partnership. Rossington, who only signed on loan from Northants at the start of the week, married