Kent muster just 170 despite Grant Stewart’s aggressive counterattack after Warwickshire take the lead following Hannon-Dalby’s four-for and Yates’ fifty.

Warwickshire is 16 runs behind Kent (171; Stewart 50; Hannon-Dalby 4-56) with a score of 155 for 2 (Yates 53*).

The opening day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match between Warwickshire and Kent at Canterbury saw Warwickshire dominate, reaching 155 for two at stumps, a deficit of just 16. Sam Hain was 29 not out and Rob Yates was undefeated at 53.

Earlier, Grant Stewart’s 50 from 45 balls prevented Kent from scoring any lower than 171, which Oliver Hannon-Dalby bowled out for. The final three home wickets added 93 runs or more than half of the total.

After receiving his Warwickshire cap in a brief pre-game ceremony, Australian Glenn Maxwell, who had originally joined up for the Vitality Blast, made a rare first-class appearance and bowled five overs, taking zero for 17.

Kent decided to bat at the Spitfire Ground in the bright sunshine, but they approached their innings as though they were still in T20 mode. Their openers were responsible enough to go through the first ten overs, but the departure of Ben Compton appeared to be the turning point that brought about a sequence of four wickets for 19 runs in just 4.5 overs. When Chris Rushworth discovered Compton’s edge and became trapped behind for nine steps, the collapse was initiated.

Harry Finch’s first red-ball outing of the year was even shorter as he made a three-ball duck, Rushworth found his bottom edge, and Michael Burgess took a superb catch standing up to the stumps. Joe Denly lasted just four balls before he was lbw to Henry Brookes for one.

When Tawanda Muyeye poked the ball to mid-on, Jack Leaning, who had made a relatively trouble-free 7, hurried down the wicket and nearly reached the striker’s end before realizing his partner hadn’t moved, allowing Will Rhodes to enter and break the wicket.

Even though Jordan Cox was saved by a misfield, he had only made 15 runs when he pulled Hannon-Dalby to Alex Davies at square leg. The same bowler took Muyeye out for 38 to end a miserable session for the hosts.

The only hitter who had a legitimate case for being unfairly chosen, if that decision had been harsh, was Muyeye. Joey Evison scored four runs in the second over following lunch as a result of Burgess’s diving catch after he had stolen Hannon-Dalby. Stewart was then left to assume the position of Stokes. He partnered Matt Quinn for a stand of 40 that proved to be the highest of the outings after smashing Hannon-Dalby for a six that flew over cow corner and through the St. Lawrence lime tree’s limbs.

Even though Jordan Cox was saved by a misfield, he had only made 15 runs when he pulled Hannon-Dalby to Alex Davies at square leg. The same bowler took Muyeye out for 38 to end a miserable session for the hosts.

The only hitter who had a legitimate case for being unfairly chosen, if that decision had been harsh, was Muyeye. Joey Evison scored four runs in the second over following lunch as a result of Burgess’s diving catch after he had stolen Hannon-Dalby. Stewart was then left to assume the position of Stokes. He partnered Matt Quinn for a stand of 40 that proved to be the highest of the outings after smashing Hannon-Dalby for a six that flew over cow corner and through the St. Lawrence lime tree’s limbs.

Before Quinn was caught by his brother Ethan, the substitute fielder, by Brookes for 25 in a frantic 15-ball cameo, Quinn had hit six and three fours.

Stewart dumped Hannon-Dalby for a series of sixes over cow corner before his luck ran out when the same bowler had him caught on the boundary. Arshdeep Singh smacked his first delivery for a six, but he left the fireworks to Stewart, who was caught on the boundary by the same bowler.

Even though the hour had been exciting, the score appeared modest as Warwickshire advanced to 69 without a defeat. When Alex Davies was unfortunate enough to get lbw for 42 by Evison, the first stand was destroyed. Will Rhodes was later caught behind for 25 by Hamid Qadri, but Yates was on 42 when Kent failed to run him out, and he and Hain otherwise remained unfazed as they batted through the evening session.