Riley shines with seven-wicket haul

Kent’s spin bowler Adam Riley took seven wickets but Kent had the worst of the second day at the Ageas Bowl where Hampshire finished on top.

Riley, 21, finished with figures of seven for 150 having only previously taken 28 in his first-class career, but Hampshire still managed to amass a first-innings total of 455.

In reply, Kent reached 149 for four from 44 overs by the close of the second day, still 306 behind and 157 from the follow-on.

The sunshine and the perfect batting conditions provided the platform for Neil McKenzie and Sean Ervine to extend Hampshire’s overnight total of 265 for four from 96 overs.

South African McKenzie raced to the 49th first-class century of a distinguished career and the fifth-wicket pair combined for 189 before they were parted.

McKenzie’s 146 was his second-highest score for Hampshire but was ended when Riley found an edge for wicketkeeper Geraint Jones to snare.

McKenzie faced 214 balls and hit 21 fours, and it looked as if the patient Ervine would join him in scoring a century until Hampshire lost two wickets in four balls at 403.

Adam Wheater was leg-before sweeping Riley when on 21 and in the next over Ervine chased a wide delivery from Darren Stevens and Jones again took the catch.

Ervine had hit 10 fours in a 226-ball innings of 86 that was notable for its uncharacteristically subdued creation.

Riley bowled David Balcombe five runs later but Kent were made to wait for the end of their misery as Danny Briggs made 25 and last man David Griffiths struck Riley for two sixes before being bowled by the same bowler in the same over.

With Stevens taking two for 72, the only other wicket-taker was medium-pacer Calum Haggett, who dismissed Briggs.

When Kent responded, openers Sam Northeast and Robert Key made batting look just as easy as Hampshire had done in an opening partnership of 106 in 29 untroubled overs.

But Northeast was soon leg-before to Ervine after hitting 10 boundaries in a fluent 59 and was followed back to the pavilion by Key in the next over.

Key had scored 47 when he edged Griffiths into the slips, where Ervine took the opportunity to reduce Kent to 110 for two.

Griffiths broke through again at 139 when he bowled Daniel Bell-Drummond and Riley’s memorable day was ruined when, as nightwatchman, he was caught at short leg by James Vince off Briggs.

Brendan Nash (26 not out) and Ben Harmison, yet to get off the mark, saw Kent through to the close.