David Wiese in the wickets again before Kent strike back on day one

The momentum swung back and forth between Kent and Sussex on day one of their Specsavers County Championship fixture at Canterbury.

A brilliant fightback from Sussex’s seamers in the afternoon session saw Kent slip from 125-2 to 215 all out. The visitors were then reduced to 21-4, before a counter-punching partnership from Luke Wright and Ben Brown took the side to 69-4 at the close.

After Sussex had exercised their right to field, Ollie Robinson made an early breakthrough when he bowled Daniel Bell-Drummond (13) in the sixth over of the day and David Wiese – playing his 100th first-class match - picked up Sean Dickson for 10 with the score on 50.

Heino Kuhn and Joe Denly made steady progress thereafter, putting on 75 runs together either side of lunch.

Half an hour after the break, Wiese sparked a Kent collapse with three wickets in twelve balls.

Denly was caught behind by Brown for 26, before Kuhn (60) suffered the same fate in his compatriot’s next over. Adam Rouse then nicked an outswinger to Harry Finch.

Wiese’s spell clearly inspired his fellow seamers as first Robinson found Zak Crawley’s edge and then Ishant Sharma – who had been presented with his county cap ahead of the start of play – picked up two wickets in successive overs to leave Kent eight down with the score on 163

Callum Haggett and Grant Stewart scored 31 each in contrasting fashion, before Robinson bowled Haggett and Sharma did the same to Stewart to end the innings.

When Sussex’s reply got underway, the top order quickly discovered why Matt Henry is the division’s leading wicket taker. After Harry Podmore removed Phil Salt in the second over, the New Zealander took three wickets with his next four overs to dismiss Luke Wells, Stiaan van Zyl and Harry Finch.

Wright and Brown resisted further loss in confident fashion, however, as they put on an unbeaten 48 for the fifth wicket.

Speaking at the close, Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie said: ““Losing four wickets at the end of the day wasn’t ideal, but the opposition are allowed to bowl well too. I thought we were a little bit slow into our work at the start of the day.

“It took us a little longer to get our lines and lengths right and we bowled well after lunch. David Wiese bowled really well, he was slow to get cracking and get the motor running, but when he did he was a real handful.    

“The first hour tomorrow will be pretty crucial. We need ‘Browny’ and ‘Wrighty’ to develop this partnership for sure.”