Michael Carberry scored a magnificent first LV County Championship century in two years on his return to Kent.

Carberry, outstanding for Hampshire in limited-overs competition this season, returned to four-day form with an unbeaten 137 (277 balls, 13 fours, three sixes) at Canterbury.

Hampshire finished the first day on 263-3 with Carberry and Liam Dawson (75) sharing a 146-run stand for the second wicket.

Carberry, whose 219-ball ton was his first since 2011, went into the game with 226 runs at 20.5 in this season's Championship

He lost captain Jimmy Adams (8) early on and Dawson and James Vince were both trapped lbw during the final session, but the former Kent left-hander dominated an unbroken partnership of 71 with Sean Ervine (24*).

Adam Rouse is making his first-class debut after replacing the injured Neil McKenzie (thigh), who hopes to be fit for Friday night’s big t20 game against Surrey at The Oval.