Surrey 18 for two path Kent 301 (Cox 133, Evison 58, Abbott 4-52) by 283 runs

The huge news earlier than the beginning of play was Kent's resolution to omit Sam Billings after what was described as "mutual discussions around form." The captain had averaged 9.19 thus far this season so this wasn't a bombshell, however even this ritual sacrifice did little to enhance the temper of a pageant crowd throughout a torrid morning session.

"I think most of the boys knew before," Cox mentioned of Billings' resolution. "We've all been struggling for runs, I'm not going to lie, so it was all about scoring runs and I think, for the best interests of the team he was like 'I'm going to step down for this game.'

"He may are available for the subsequent recreation, however he was like, 'for me, that is what I wish to do, that is what I must do' and that is correct from a captain. Lots of captains would simply go 'no, I'm the captain of the crew, I must play,' however he was like 'I need this for the crew, I've not been enjoying effectively, I perceive that. I do know I'm captain of the membership nevertheless it nonetheless means I can get dropped' so he is achieved that and it is proven to the boys that we now have to attain runs and anybody can get dropped, even Joe Denly, who's performed 170 video games."

Kent won the toss, chose to bat in front of a good festival crowd and eased through 11 overs, only to lose four wickets for a single run in 13 balls. Both openers fell to slip catches off Abbott in the 12th, Ben Compton for 9, edging the first delivery to Will Jacks at third and Tawanda Muyeye for 21, nudging the final ball to Dom Sibley at first.

The next three batters made ducks. Daniel Bell-Drummond was lbw to Jordan Clark and at the start of the 14th Abbott bowled Joe Denly with a ball that nipped back. Cox survived the hat-trick ball but when Clark had stand-in skipper Jack Leaning caught behind soon afterwards the natives were getting restless.

On the boundary a member greeted another with the polite enquiry: "Good morning, all proper?" The reply was blunt: "Yes. Only I'm not all proper, and it is not a superb morning."

Evision's arrival prompted a extra defiant yell of: "Come on Joey, they do not prefer it up 'em," and he at least prevented further damage before lunch, at which point Kent were 80 for 5. It nearly got worse for Kent when Cox edged Abbott, but Foakes dropped a simple chance.

Evison completed his half-century by hooking the same bowler to the boundary and looked well set until he edged Dan Moriarty to Foakes. Surrey's keeper then took a smart catch off Gus Atkinson to get rid of Hamid Qadri for 5, flinging himself to the leg side, before Atkinson sent Quinn's leg stump flying for 10, but Kent were on 211 for 8 at tea, with Agar showing signs he could have been higher up the order.

The runs started to flow in the evening session. Cox reached three figures with an elegant reverse-swept four off Moriarty and although Will Jacks nearly had him caught on the boundary when he was on 123, Sibley had to step over the rope before completing the catch.

The new ball eventually did for Cox, who hit Abbott to Clark at mid-on but the bowler was denied a five-wicket haul when Arshdeep Singh skied the next ball and Burns couldn't cling on.

That drop was less costly as Worrall had Agar caught by Sibley at first slip in the next over, but it left Surrey with 11 overs to navigate before stumps.

Arshdeep's first three overs in county cricket had been all maidens nevertheless it was Agar who made the breakthrough, drawing Burns right into a hook that was caught by Quinn at brief advantageous leg for 15. Nightwatcher Atkinson then fell in virtually similar trend to the ultimate ball of the day, leaving even Kent's most pessimistic followers beaming.