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Stevens delights Kent faithful

Kent's recovery was made all the more enjoyable thanks to a fantastic unbeaten 98 on the first day of the 162nd Canterbury Cricket Week.

LVCC Division Two, Day One, Canterbury: Kent 334/6 (Harmison 106, Stevens 98*) Scorecard

Stevens showed his class from the outset, leaning on a ball slightly short outside off stump and timing it perfectly, sending the ball racing to the fence for four. His innings was full of boundaries, with his drives through the covers particularly well struck, as well as a couple of cut shots creamed for four. His runs helped take any pressure off Ben Harmison, who settled well after a tricky start and constructed his first century at Canterbury, in front of a modest crowd. But it was Stevens who really excited. The nature of his batting rarely results in slow passages of play, and whilst he was in no way reckless today, his ability to pick the right balls to attack is supreme. Only once was he almost out, skying an aggressive shot on 94 when trying to press for his century before the close. After a long time under the ball, mid-off mis-judged and the ball hit the turf.

Kent struggled in the morning with the ball seaming around, but after lunch Gloucestershire's eager bowling attack just lost that little extra zip that a new ball and a fresh pitch offer, making scoring a little easier. Rob Key battled well for a half century, but a good spell of scoreboard pressure after lunch saw him edge behind.

Northeast failed to survive the first over of the game. He has really not progressed following yet another false dawn last season. Personally I would point to his technique, where in defence his bat comes diagonally across to meet the ball, instead of straight. He couldn't lay a bat on Will Gidman today, almost edging behind twice before being cleaned up by a straight one. A very depressing start, and again there are doubts about his ability.

Bell-Drummond has always struck me as the sort of player who looks imperious when he gets in, but doesn't quite build that from the foundations of a flawless technique. He doesn't quite get that stride in to meet the ball in defence. He makes batting look serene, but again today he was out early on, trapped on the crease lbw staying back to a delivery that he might have been better served in going forward to.

Brendan Nash was rightly awarded his county cap on the outfield at lunchtime, but sadly that was after a skittish innings that started and ended in the morning session. He was dropped by the keeper having played a loose drive, before being clean bowled soon after. As he had done in the YB40 game on Thursday, he looked like he was struggling to time the ball.

The afternoon session definitely belonged to Kent, with Harmison and Stevens punishing loose bowling. Harmison's technique has never convinced me, but today he looked comfortable with his game. Early on he could well have been out caught behind, plus there were a couple of edgy moments at times throughout his innings, but his strokeplay was positive and his confidence is high. Whilst I still wouldn't rely on him on a seaming wicket in April, he deserves his success, and deserved his century today. He eventually prodded at one outside off and was caught, but by that stage Kent had moved towards 300.

Geraint Jones came in, and looked like settling into a good supportive innings. He cut and drove the ball with authority, but chased a wide one having struck a four the previous ball, and was caught behind. A wasteful dismissal, really.

Kent's day, with the score 334/6 at the close. Stevo was desperate to get his century but decided not to risk a suicidal run out to maintain the strike in the final over of the day. The position is encouraging, and whilst the pitch looks flat enough for Gloucestershire to score something similar, it may well start to deteriorate - particularly given David Payne is creating nice rough outside off stump for Tredwell to utilise.

The crowd was modest by Cricket Week standard, but those that were there were undoubtedly pleased to witness a good day for Kent.

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