Joseph doubles gives Kent at flying start at The Nevill

Kent v Essex LV County Championship, Tunbridge Wells
By Mark Pennell
KENT enjoyed their break from Twenty20 cricket and made a successful return to the four-day game in Tunbridge Wells today by reducing visitors Essex to 72 for three on the first day of four in the Royal Spa town.
Robbie Joseph bagged two for 21 and Amjad Khan one for seven as Kent, with Rob Key back at the helm after England“s World Twenty20 elimination, dominated proceedings.
Kent made their first breakthrough of Festival Week in the third over of the day when Amjad Khan struck with only his 10th ball of the game and of the season.
Fully fit again after shaking off persistent knee problems and swelling at the back of the joint, Khan bowled with decent pace despite a very slow pitch which is being used for county cricket for the first time here at The Nevill Ground.
Bowling from the Pavilion End Khan took the scalp of Jason Gallian for one, bowled via an inside edge as he attempted a back-foot force through the covers to make it four for one.
Seven overs later, England opener Alistair Cook, having just hit the first boundary of the day off Robbie Joseph, then went back to one that kept slightly low from the Railway End to catch the left-hander plum in front playing no stroke to leave umpire John Steele with a simple leg-before decision to make.
In his next over Joseph nipped another one back in off the seam to pluck out Varun Chopra“s off stump and send him packing for three.
At 18 for three Essex were deep in trouble, but former Kent stalwart Matt Walker (30*) then teamed up with his new skipper Mark Pettini (20*) to add 52 in 19 overs through to lunch.

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