Kent were heavily punished for a miscalculation with the toss as Warwickshire amassed 367-3 on the opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship Division 1 match at Edgbaston.
Sam Billings chose to field after winning the toss and Rob Yates and Sam Hain punished that decision with centuries - Yates hitting 128 off 217 balls with Hain unbeaten at stumps on 124 from 235 balls.
Billings' call appeared a curious decision on a pitch which looked firm and true and so it proved, as Yates and Hain added 166 for the third wicket before Dan Mousley brought late impetus with a sparkling unbeaten 72 (from 78 balls).
Kent's seam attack, already missing the injured Nathan Gilchrist and Grant Stewart, was further hampered when Matt Quinn limped off just 22 balls into his new-ball spell. Quinn returned after lunch, but was unable to prevent a bracing reality check for his side after their winning start to the season against Northamptonshire last week.
Kent head coach Matt Walker said: "With the toss, we felt that bowling first was our best chance to win the game, with a bit in the pitch and a bit of moisture around - equally we knew if we had lost the toss and batted it wouldn't have been an issue. It's just a good cricket wicket.
"We just weren't quite good enough but there'll be a bit of reflection on the day and we've got to come back tomorrow positive and better and when our chance comes to bat, take it because we know there are runs to be had. We need to come back stronger tomorrow and just make it hard for them to score.
"We'll have to see how Quinny's groin settles down. He recognised there was something not right, it was nothing drastic, not a pop or anything like that, and he was able to get back out there and bowl but
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