BALCOMBE STRIKES ON DEBUT
 
Hampshire, chasing the Liverpool/Victoria County Championship title, spent a tough opening day in the field as relegation-threatened Kent totalled 342-5 at The Rose Bowl.
 
Shane Warne took 2-82 off 29 overs on the day when young 6ft 4in paceman David Balcombe claimed a well-deserved wicket on his Championship debut.
 
Martin van Jaarsveld top-scored for Kent with an unbeaten 112, his fifth Championship century of the season, and hit 14 fours in a 192-ball innings.
 
Rob Key, who chose to bat first on a good track, made 84 and shared an opening stand of 122 with Joe Denly (54).
 
Warne made the initial breakthrough by having Denly smartly stumped by Nic Pothas, then Key was lbw to Sean Ervine to make it 169-2. Matthew Walker (38) was snapped up by Warne 80 runs later before James Bruce had Darren Stevens caught behind off an inside edge for 18.
 
Then came Balcombe's big moment when Neil Dexter (6) was caught by wicketkeeper Pothas off a good delivery that left the batsman.
 
Van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones added 32 runs before the close, Jones scoring 20 of them.
 
"David Balcombe beat the bat, finally got his reward and was probably the pick of our quicks," said Hampshire manager Paul Terry. "He's had a really good season and deserved his chance."
 
KENT 342-5 (104 overs): Van Jaarsveld 112 not out, Key 84, Denly 54, Warne 2-82, Ervine 1-29, Balcombe 1-74, Bruce 1-82.
 
HAMPSHIRE 1 point, Kent 3.  

Scorecard

Read Simon Walter's Match Report on the Southen Daily Echo online  

Balcombe's bowling attack (Photo - Barry Zee Portsmouth News)

Balcombe celebrates his wicket with the team (Photo - Barry Zee Portsmouth News)

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