Kent toil away the field in County Championship Division 1 as Essex (327-4) make promising start

Kent toiled away in the field on day one of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 match with Essex at Canterbury on Monday.

Matt Critchley cashed in after being dropped on six to post an unbeaten 80 after Sir Alastair Cook had made 78 and another half-century from Tom Westley (54) got them to 327-4 at the close.

Grant Stewart had Kent’s most economical figures with 1-48, but the bowlers struggled to make inroads in a game that could be pivotal for their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Essex were reduced to 219-4 but Critchley’s unbroken partnership of 108 with Feroze Khushi, unbeaten on 46, tipped the momentum back in favour of the visitors.

Kent chose to bowl after winning the toss but struggled to create any chances, despite heavy cloud cover at The Spitfire Ground.

Essex were 82 without loss at lunch and enjoyed a break early in the afternoon session when Cook was put down in the slips after edging Stewart, when he was on 44.

The opening stand of 101 ended when Matt Quinn took a sharp return catch to remove Nick Browne for 45, but Cook and Westley put on 58 for the second wicket before the former edged Stewart to Ollie Robinson at first slip.

Dan Lawrence made nine before his off-stump was yorked by Daniel Bell-Drummond but Jack Leaning was then denied a wicket when Critchley was dropped by Ben Compton at short leg, leaving Essex 207-3 at tea.

Westley was run-out soon after the resumption, with Critchley having steered Harry Podmore - who got a late call into Kent’s squad - towards third man. Having comfortably strolled two, Westley inexplicably set off for the keeper’s end and was inches short when Kent captain Sam Billings gathered Joe Denly’s throw and broke the wicket.

At that point, Kent were well in