Northampton, day 1 summary: Kent 154-0, 36 overs, vs Northants. Day 1 at Northampton between third placed Northants and second placed Kent was shortened to just 36 overs because of rain all morning until about lunchtime. Play finally got underway at 4.15pm. On a green pitch, Northants won the toss and put Kent in to bat. It looked a good toss to win on a damp day. But Kent defied the challenging conditions and reached 154-0 by the close with an excellent opening partnership between Ben Compton, 51, and Zak Crawley, 82. It was Kent’s first century opening partnership of the season and Zak Crawley’s highest Championship score of the season, beating his 81 at Merchant Taylors’ school last week. Kent made one change bringing in Grant Stewart and resting Matt Quinn. Northants were unchanged from a mauling of Lancashire. Ben Sanderson was expected to be a handful, he has taken 45 wickets this season at 18.7, and he was. First ball of the innings, Compton survived a confident appeal for lbw from Sanderson. It looked very close and Compton may have been lucky. Compton was then dropped on 17, at 4th slip by Nathan McSweeney as he edged Sanderson. Sanderson’s opening spell of 7 overs was very challenging, bowling beautifully. But at the other end Liam Guthrie was not so challenging as Crawley tucked in, driving through cover for 4 and then through extra cover for 4 more to get him going. Crawley then tucked in to Luke Procter who replaced Guthrie, whipping through backward square leg for 4, and driving straight for 4 more. 57-0, 14 overs, Crawley 32 not out. When Guthrie returned, Compton glanced to fine leg for 4 twice in successive overs, and then drove straight for 4 more. 82-0 Crawley pushed former Kent overseas spinner Yuzi Chahal into the offside for a single to go to 50. His second 50 in the Championship this season, and second in consecutive games. Crawley then lifted Chahal effortlessly straight for 6 into the prawn sandwich stand to our right, before nurdling to third man for 4 more. 118-0. Crawley 67, Compton 36 Crawley was now motoring as he drove Sanderson through extra cover for 4, glorious, before repeating the shot for 4 more. 144-0, Crawley 79. Compton nudged spinner Calvin Harrison into the legside for 2 to go to 50. And that was close of play, Kent 154-0, Compton 51, Crawley 82, an excellent session for Kent. Crawley was in dominant mood, striking the ball well and looking somewhere near his best. His 82 has come from just 108 balls. Compton had a couple of pieces of luck but is still there, his 51 from 113 balls. Kent will hope for more of the same tomorrow. See you in the morning.