Hampshire 301 for 3 (Vince 149*, Brown 106*) vs Kent
Vince had skirted round type with 305 runs in 11 innings earlier than exploding with a sensational unbeaten 166 in opposition to Warwickshire final week after which following it up with 149 not out at Utilita Bowl.
He and Brown placed on 245 for the fourth wicket after the highest order had faltered to 56 for 3 to place Hampshire in command. Wicketkeeper-batter Brown joined Vince within the three-figure membership late within the day to achieve an unbeaten 106 as Hampshire ended the day on 301 for 3.
Having been caught in, and endured an 80-minute rain delay shortly after play had began, Hampshire discovered themselves in a spot of trouble. Fletcha Middleton had recorded twin fifties at Edgbaston however uneasily left his bat hanging for the match once more Grant Stewart to kiss the skin edge.
Australian Charlie Stobo was subsequent as much as bulldoze the highest order when Nick Gubbins, sadly, padded into his stumps to depart Hampshire 24 for two.
Vince rapidly bought transferring along with his first scoring shot naturally a drive via the duvet boundary. However he misplaced Toby Albert after 9 overs collectively when the opener loosely drove to second slip – with Jack Leaning not exhibiting any sick results from the damaged hand which had saved him out for seven weeks.
From then on it was the Vince present, with luscious pictures whereas toying with the now ineffective visiting bowlers.
Earlier than that mesmerising century earlier within the week, he solely had a pair of fifties within the Championship and a Vitality Blast 53 to indicate for a disappointing opening to the marketing campaign. However this was peak Vince, dismissing any unfastened bowling for boundaries – with 10 of his 22 fours piercing the covers.
There have been barely a handful of events when he was uncontrolled of the ball, and none went near fingers as he began in fourth gear and by no means relented.
The fifty got here in 56 balls, the century – his thirtieth in first-class matches – zipped by in 115 deliveries with a tuck off his legs. There was even time for him to cross 12,000 red-ball runs for Hampshire.
If Vince was an aggressive and easy Ying, Brown was a watchful and decided Yang. All the pieces the previous Sussex captain did was managed. Boundaries got here once they got here however he by no means went trying to find them.
However when there was slightly width, a punched lower would seem; a ball down his legs and a full-blooded sweep or pull would materialise.
His twenty fifth century arrived in 183 balls because the floodlights began to glow, because the green-tinged pitch which initially regarded good for bowling had lengthy since flattened out.
