It was a little different, however, at the St Lawrence Ground yesterday as Gloucestershire squandered a good start with some careless batting. Fleming chipped in with a typically economical two for 20 from seven overs as Kent took an early grip on proceedings.

Having had their first Benson and Hedges game washed out earlier in the week, Kent were desperate to play against opposition they knew they should beat. Considering all the recent rain, a green-looking pitch played better than expected and Gloucestershire's total of 193 for nine looked insufficient.

Fleming took an important early wicket when ending Tim Hancock's belligerent 56-ball 58 with an off-cutter. So began the visitors' decline from 81 without loss in the 15th over to 98 for four come the 20th. Carl Hooper played a key part, taking two slip catches, one a brilliant one to account for Mark Alleyne, as well as removing Tony Wright hit wicket. On the damp surface, Wright's back foot slipped.

Despite the absence of the injured Martin McCague, Kent were still able to put out five international bowlers.