COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Tunbridge Wells:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Nottinghamshire 393-8
Notts 4pts, Kent 2pts
Match scorecard

Read has now scored over 400 first-class runs this season

Captain Chris Read struck an unbeaten 72 to give County Championship leaders Nottinghamshire the upper hand over Kent on day one at Tunbridge Wells.

After Notts won the toss, Alex Hales (95) helped them to 146-1 at lunch.

But the home side fought back after the interval, with Simon Cook (4-48) picking up to help reduce the visitors to 266-6

But Read steadied the ship and was well supported by Andre Adams (35) as Notts reached 393-8 at the close.

The visitors had no hesitation in batting first in ideal conditions and against a home attack with only three specialist seamers.

Notts cashed in with a first-wicket stand of 42 between Hales and makeshift opener Samit Patel (10), who struggled again with the bat.

But from 151-1, Nottinghamshire lost their next five wickets for 112 in the afternoon session.

Hales shared a second-wicket stand of 112 with Mark Wagh who was caught behind for 44, and the opener joined him back in the pavilion three overs later.

Working to leg against Kent's debutant Sri Lankan wrist-spinner Malinga Bandara (2-105), Hales found a leading edge and spooned a return catch to the bowler to go for 95 from 121 balls with 13 fours and two sixes.

In the next over, Steven Mullaney (1) flashed at his fourth delivery to give Geraint Jones the third of his four catches - his fourth accounted for Ali Brown (39), who nicked an attempted cut shot against off-spinner James Tredwell (2-110).

Australian David Hussey, (52) posted a composed 68-ball half-century, but then became Bandara's second victim.

606: DEBATE Well done Mr Hales. AGAIN. This kid never ceases to impress me Zegulle

Read counter-attacked in the final session to up the scoring rate, but he lost Paul Franks (17) leg before after he played back to a Tredwell quicker ball.

Adams marched in to emulate Read's attacking policy and his cameo of 35 included two sixes.

The second new ball allowed Cook to claim Adams, his fourth wicket of the day, but Read continued through to the close unbeaten.

Kent's beleaguered pace attack suffered a further blow late on when their wicketless strike bowler Amjad Khan limped off for treatment to a leg injury.

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