Essex produced a pitiful performance on the opening day of their CricInfo Championship at Southend against Kent having been dismissed for 107 as Mark Ealham returned figures of 5-13.

The former England all-rounder produced two superb spells of probing medium-pace bowling to exploit the fallibility of the home side's batting line-up that so obviously missed the talents of broken-finger victim Stuart Law.

In his first spell, Ealham took 2-8 from six overs during which he removed Darren Robinson for 24, who offered no stroke and was adjudged leg before wicket, before having Ronnie Irani caught at the wicket for a duck.

That was the fourth wicket to fall in the morning session after Irani had won the toss for the first time in the competition since the opening day of the season only to see his side produce an abject display.

Paul Grayson was caught at second slip without scoring in the fourth over of the day and former Kent player Richard Clinton was bowled by Min Patel as he attempted to add to his 19 with a sweep shot only to be bowled around his legs.

Essex resumed after lunch on 72-4 but were soon in further trouble when James Foster gave Ealham the first of three wickets in a spell of 8-6-5-3. The Essex wicketkeeper had scored 18 in a partnership of 30 with Stephen Peters – the highest of the innings – but Ealham followed up with two more wickets in his next three overs to reduce the bottom of the table side to 85-7.

Only Peters showed any defiance, batting for 163 minutes before he was bowled off his pads by Martin Saggers to end a fighting innings of 27 amongst a fragile performance elsewhere that saw four batsmen fail to score.

Ben Trott then wrapped up the innings with two lbw victims to conclude a woeful batting attempt.

In contrast, Kent made smooth if steady progress with openers David Fulton and Robert Key seldom troubled. Fulton reached his eighth first-class half-century of the season having faced 106 deliveries that included two boundaries and his partnership with Key took Kent into then lead in the 39th over of the innings.

By the close, the pair were still at the crease, with the stand worth 116 to conclude a miserable day for the home side.

© CricInfo