Cork five-for rolls back the years

Hampshire 51 for 2 v Kent 251
Scorecard

Former England allrounder Dominic Cork proved the years have not hindered his quality with a five-wicket haul for Hampshire against Kent at the Rose Bowl. Cork, who turns 39 next month, finished with 5 for 50 as Kent lurched to 251 all out after their captain Robert Key had won the toss.

In reply, Hampshire lost in-form opener James Adams first ball and then Liam Dawson to end a turbulent first day 200 behind at 51 for 2. Cork's burst of wickets took his first-class career total to 944 and the ex-Derbyshire and Lancashire player is also in sight of another impressive milestone, requiring 400 runs for his 10,000.

Key was Cork's first victim in the 11th over when the bowler took a smart return catch, and the rest was a bit of a procession with Geraint Jones and Martin van Jaarsveld both out by the 26th over. Only the obstinate Joe Denly and Sam Northeast offered any prolonged resistance in a stand of 74 for the fourth wicket.

David Balcombe removed Denly after a hard-fought 67 off 153 balls, smartly taken by wicketkeeper Nic Pothas diving to his right in front of the slips. That left Kent on 172 for 4 but Northeast did not last much longer, departing the ball after reaching his half-century to a catch at second slip by Neil McKenzie.

Northeast hit nine boundaries in a fluent 50 off 108 balls, and it was then that Cork came on to do his major damage. James Hockley was bowled by Cork, getting plenty of movement through the air, without scoring and Simon Cook went the same way.

In between, Malinga Bandara edged Cork to the wicketkeeper and suddenly Kent were 191 for 8 and in real trouble. Their tail gleaned some extra runs, Alex Blake making 31 and helping take the total to 251, thanks in part to a stand of 24 for the last wicket involving Amjad Khan and Robbie Joseph.

Left-arm spinner Danny Briggs continued to show his promise with figures of 2 for 26. England selector James Whitaker had travelled to the south coast to look at the form of opener Denly for Kent and Adams for Hampshire, but Adams lasted only one ball before fending a sharply rising delivery from Khan to short leg where Northeast held the catch.

Dawson departed with the score on 24, edging Joseph to second slip where Van Jaarsveld clutched onto the opportunity.