COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
CLOSES OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Northants 38-1, Kent 244 (Northants 3pts, Kent 1pt)
11-14 August 2009

Key has been tipped for a recall to the England side for the final Ashes Test

Rob Key boosted his chances of a recall to the England side, but could not prevent Northants from having the better of day one at Wantage Road.

Key made 90 out of Kent's all-out total of 244, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 70 with Sam Northeast (35).

Johannes van der Wath took 3-32 for the home side, Andrew Hall and England's Monty Panesar each taking two wickets.

Simon Cook then removed Northants opener Stephen Peters before the close, to leave the hosts 38-1 at stumps.

After Kent won the toss, Key and Joe Denly added 24 for the first wicket, before Denly edged David Lucas to Rob White at second slip.

Geraint Jones joined Key to take the score to 63, but when the former England wicketkeeper was caught by Lucas off David Wigley and Monty Panesar had Martin van Jaarsveld caught by Alex Wakely, Kent were 100-3.

Key and Northeast then combined, only for the England hopeful to fall lbw to Andrew Hall after hitting 12 fours and a six in his 134-ball effort.

This was the catalyst for Kent to lose their last seven wickets for 74 runs and slip to a below-par first innings total.

Peters then edged Cook through to Jones for eight, leaving White and Niall O'Brien to guide the hosts to stumps.

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