COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, The Rose Bowl:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Hampshire 404-5, Kent 251
Hants 8pts, Kent 3pts
Match scorecard

Carberry's 158 was his highest score of the season

Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie both hit centuries to bat Hampshire into a strong position on day two against Kent at The Rose Bowl.

Resuming on 51-2, Hampshire soon lost nightwatchman James Tomlinson.

But Carberry (158) and McKenzie (113) then shared 254, a county record for the fourth wicket against Kent.

James Vince and Nic Pothas continued to pile on the runs with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 60 as Hampshire closed on 404-5, a lead of 153.

There was little in the pitch for the bowlers and, with Kent's options reduced by an injury to Amjad Khan, captain Rob Key used seven bowlers, including Martin van Jaarsveld's occasional off-spin.

But they all struggled in the face of the two centurions, who came together when Tomlinson edged Simon Cook to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.

606: DEBATE Hats off to Carbs for his fine 158 after being excluded from the T20 team spgills

Carberry and McKenzie dominated the visiting attack and led their side to 312-3 at tea before their stand was finally ended with the score on 326 when McKenzie edged Cook to second slip.

Their partnership beat the 232 put on for the fourth wicket against Kent between John Crawley and Neil Johnson at Canterbury in 2002.

And it was the county's second highest for any wicket against Kent, only bettered by the 270 Phil Mead and John Parker put on for the seventh wicket, also at Canterbury, in 1926.

After Carberry then edged Robbie Joseph behind, Vince and Pothas continued the assault leaving Hampshire in the strong position from which to claim only their second County Championship win of the summer.

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