McLaren stars for Kent

Ryan McLaren claimed 5-31 for Kent with his seamers

Honours were even at the end of the first day of Kent’s LV County Championship Division One clash with Somerset at Tunbridge Wells despite Ryan McLaren claiming 5-31 for Kent.

Having dismissed the visitors for a modest 208 at tea, Kent were 85 for three by stumps.

The hosts lost two early wickets with Joe Denly bowled by the first ball from Charl Willoughby and, with James Tredwell lbw to Peter Trego for nine, they were 31 for two in the 14th over.

But thanks to a stand of 41 between Rob Key and Martin van Jaarsveld, Kent were on the way to recovery until Trego claimed the scalp of the former, lbw for 48 just three overs before close of play.

Van Jaarsveld remained not out on 21 and nightwatchman Martin Saggers was yet to score with Kent trailing by 123 runs.

Earlier, Kent’s pace bowlers ensured that Somerset made a poor start after deciding to make first use of a grassless pitch.

In the first hour of play Kent claimed four wickets with the first two falling on 31 and the next two on 41.

Neil Edwards played a fine extra-cover drive for four in his brief innings of 11 before being caught behind off Ryan McLaren, who, with the next ball, uprooted Justin Langer's off-stump with a ball that nipped in sharply.

Marcus Trescothick looked well settled after striking four boundaries.

But Robbie Joseph was brought on in a double bowling change and he had the former England opening batsman caught in his second over as he attempted a cut and bottom-edged to first slip.

Two balls later, Joseph struck again when Zander de Bruyn shuffled across his stumps without scoring.

Shortly afterwards Yasir Arafat trapped Ian Blackwell (15) lbw with the total on 72, and 10 runs later James Hildreth (22), who had earlier been dropped at slip on two, also went leg before - this time to McLaren in the first over after lunch.

The visitors' best stand came for the seventh wicket when Trego and Craig Kieswetter put on 54 in eight overs before McLaren had the latter held low at first slip by Justin Kemp for 20.

Top scorer Trego played attractive strokes in hitting nine boundaries, including a perfectly-timed square cut off McLaren which brought up the hundred for Somerset.

He was just one short of his half-century when he edged a ball from Joseph for Geraint Jones to take a fine low catch to his left.

The last two wickets added valuable runs with 28 from Ben Phillips which included three fours and a huge six, while Steffan Jones hit four boundaries in his 22.

McLaren's excellent pace bowling gave him five wickets and Joseph finished with 4-57.