LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Old Trafford:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Lancashire 317-9 v Kent
Lancs 3 pts, Kent 3 pts
Match scorecard

Prince's century contained a six and 12 fours

Lancashire's Ashwell Prince upstaged South Africa team-mate Makhaya Ntini's Kent debut with a century on a topsy-turvy first day at Old Trafford.

Ntini took 2-34 as the home side were reduced to 86-4 just after lunch.

But Prince came to his side's rescue with 115, sharing 144 for the fifth wicket with Steven Croft (93).

Croft was one three late victims for Darren Stevens (4-42) as Kent fought back in the final session to restrict Lancashire to 317-9 at the close.

Ntini wasted little time in making an impact for his new county after joining on a five-week deal on Friday, bowling Tom Smith after Amjad Khan had already removed Stephen Moore.

And Lancashire looked deep in trouble when Ntini, who will be replaced at Canterbury by Sri Lankan spin bowler Malinga Bandara in late May, had Mark Chilton caught by Martin van Jaarsveld at second slip after Paul Horton had lost his off stump to a Stevens delivery that kept low.

But Prince and Croft, who made his fifth successive Championship fifty, survived several alarms to stay together for 42 overs to strengthen their side's hand.

It might have been even better for Lancashire had Prince not been run out by a direct hit from deep mid-wicket by Joe Denly, who had earlier dropped him on 18.

Kent battled back after that stroke of fortune, with Croft caught at first slip off James Hockley in the penultimate over of the day as Stevens was rewarded for his accuracy and persistence.

BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read reflects on the day one action:
At one stage Lancashire were 12-2 and then 86-4 so the home side will be pretty pleased to have reached and then got beyond the 300 mark.

Ashwell Prince should take great credit for a fine knock just when things were looking a little sticky for Lancashire, but likewise Steven Croft, first as the support act to Prince and then the main attraction himself.

I'm sure he'll be gutted to have missed out on a ton but he will be delighted with the start he's made to the season - half-centuries in each Championship innings so far - and, along with Prince, he has helped give Lancashire a healthy-looking platform heading into day two."

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