Rob Key leads Kent to strong position against Yorkshire

Kent ended the first day well placed after their top order scored heavily against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Twenty-four hours after the ground was covered in snow, openers Scott Newman and Rob Key led the way for the visitors with a stand of 141.

Newman was bowled by Ryan Sidebottom and Key was three short of a century when he was run out by Andrew Gale.

Ben Harmison (45) on his Kent debut and Brendan Nash (67) helped steer Kent to 345-5 with plenty of power to add.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX.

Ben Croucher of BBC Radio Kent said:

"In 2011, Kent's ability to score heavily in their first innings was conspicuous by its absence. Today, the platform set by Kent's new guard was practically perfect.

"Key's 97 was impeccable from ball one, blocking bullishly and attacking with control. His patience in knuckling down when Newman went showed immense maturity and the anguish as he trudged off, having denied himself a deserved century,was plain to see. Passing 16,000 career first class runs appeared scant consolation.

"Of that new guard, Brendan Nash's cover drive rewrote the textbook and Michael Powell's resolve, though out of form, showed real character instilled in Jimmy Adams' new look squad.

"For Yorkshire, if they can bottle up the aggression shown by Ajmal Shazad and Sidebottom at times and unleash it tomorrow, they still have a chance. They need some change from a lacklustre, unimaginative showing today."