CLOSE - KENT 342-5 (VAN JAARSVELD 112*, JONES 20*)AFTER 104 OVERS, HAVING WON THE TOSS

David Balcombe earned a surprise call-up to Hampshire's Championship side - after Shane Warne watched a video of his record haul for the second XI.

The 22-year-old graduated from Durham UCCE two months ago and was handed his debut in place of Shaun Udal for Hampshire's crucial Championship match against Kent at the Rose Bowl yesterday morning.

It was a deserved call up following last week's match analysis of 14-88, the best by a Hampshire bowler in the Second XI Championship, against Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl.

Using his 6ft 4in frame to good effect, Balcombe bowled with purpose on a good pitch and beat the bat with regularity with the help of late away swing.

He finished with 1-74 from 22 overs as Kent closed the first day on 342-5, after winning the toss.

Balcombe, who has taken 30 wickets in six Championship matches for Hampshire II this season, said: "I was in the squad on Sunday for the Pro40 win against Gloucestershire and Warney said bad luck' when I didn't make the team but told me I was more or less assured for this game.

"There's been a lot of feedback to him from the players about the way I've been bowling and he saw a video of me bowling last week.

"He's also seen me in the nets a few times and said he was impressed and has kept me updated.

"But this is the first time I've ever played with him so it was surreal to be stood at mid-on watching him bowl!"

Balcombe was unfortunate not to take a wicket with his first ball in the County Championship when, after consulting, umpires George Sharp and Roy Palmer decided that Rob Key's edge to third slip was a bump ball'.

Key was on 36 at the time and looked out, but he went on to make 84 before shuffling across his stumps to be trapped lbw by Sean Ervine midway through the afternoon session.

"I also thought I had Rob Key lbw," said Balcombe.

He was finally rewarded in the 95th over of the day, the ninth with the second new ball, when Neil Dexter hung his bat outside off stump and Nic Pothas took a good low catch.

"It was made more rewarding because it was a plan that Warney set," explained Balcombe.

"He told me he was setting a 7-2 field and told me to bowl at off stump so I was really happy when it worked out perfectly.

"I'd beaten the bat a few times and didn't think it was going to be my day - I thought I must have used my luck up last week!"

Balcombe was a member of the Surrey academy as a teenager and took 5-112 for Durham UCCE against Durham in the third of his ten previous first-class appearances two years ago.

After trialling with Hampshire in 2005, he made his first-team debut in a Twenty20 dead rubber against Middlesex at Southgate last season.

"I didn't think I'd get a look in in the first team this year because they've been doing so well so it was really nice to be brought in with something to play for," he admitted. "Now I'm ready to get stuck in and see where it can take me."

Warne broke the 122-run opening stand, Kent's biggest for any wicket at the Rose Bowl, when Joe Denly, a centurion against Hampshire at Canterbury in May, was stumped after losing his bearings three overs before lunch.

Key's was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session but Warne struck again three overs after tea, when Matthew Walker, who scored two hundreds in his last Championship appearance, against Lancashire, was well caught by Michael Brown at short leg.

James Bruce had Darren Stevens caught behind via an outside edge following a loose drive in the fifth over with the second new ball.

But Martin Van Jaarsveld remains a threat, having reached 112 (191 balls, 14 fours), his fifth century of the season, by the close.

If Hampshire can bowl Kent out this morning they will keep alive their hopes of entering the last week of the Championship in pole position.

Leaders Sussex missed out on four batting points after being dismissed for 291 by Durham at the Riverside.

Lancashire, who were level on points with Hampshire before the penultimate round of matches, bowled hapless Warwickshire out for 106 before replying with 156-4.