Andrew Symonds struck a fine century but spin twins Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury kept Surrey in the game on day one at Canterbury.

Symonds made 118 but Kent were rather restricted to 374 as Pakistani Saqlain snared five wickets and leg-spinner Salisbury four.

Surrey suffered the loss of Ian Ward to reach 20 for one in reply, Amjad Khan having the opener caught behind for seven.

After winning the toss, Kent were given a great start by openers Dave Fulton (62) and Rob Key (57), arguably the best first-wicket pair in county cricket.

They put on 121 runs together but off-spinner Saqlain removed both in swift succession to reduce the home side to 122 for two.

An Ed Smith run out 33 runs later preceded a 130-run partnership between Symonds and James Hockley, who made 46 before Jonathan Batty expertly stumped him off Salisbury.

Symonds scored at better than a run-a-ball and soon reached triple figures, but Kent descended to 329 for six when Saqlain bowled him with a terrifically deceptive delivery.

Salisbury and Saqlain then shared the remaining four wickets evenly as Kent collapsed from 371 for six to 374 all out.

Kent: D P Fulton (Capt), R W T Key, E T Smith, A Symonds J B Hockley, P A Nixon (Wkt), M A Ealham, J M Golding, M M Patel, A Khan, M J Saggers.

Surrey: I J Ward, M A Butcher, M R Ramprakash, R Clarke, A D Brown, A J Hollioake (Capt), J N Batty (Wkt), I D K Salisbury, Saqlain Mushtaq, J Ormond, E S H Giddins.

Umpires: D J Constant and T E Jesty