Durham ended the first day on 126-4 after dismissing hosts Kent for 212.

The visitors went into the game knowing a win would give them hope of clinching the County Championship if other results went their way.

They promisingly bowled the home side out cheaply but lost a wicket in the first over of the final session.

But Michael Di Venuto and Kyle Coetzer put on 83 only to fall in two overs of each other before key batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul went for four.

Durham had plummeted to 92-4, losing three wickets in 13 balls for just six runs.

Dale Benkenstein (22 not out) and Phil Mustard (14no) steadied the innings a little with a stand of 34 in 13 overs of defensive batting.

Earlier, Kent's batsmen, having decided to make first use of a pacy pitch which also helped ball movement, struggled throughout the innings.

The hosts failed to put together a good partnership until a last-wicket stand of 65 between Ryan McLaren - who remained unbeaten with 54 - and Martin Saggers (16).