Rehan Ahmed delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a brilliant 119, as Leicestershire amassed 386-9 on the first day of their County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury. Ahmed's innings, which included three sixes and 17 fours, was a masterclass in batting under challenging conditions.

Rishi Patel, who was dropped early in the innings, contributed significantly with 85 runs, forming a crucial 164-run partnership with Ahmed for the second wicket. Despite the overcast weather and a green wicket, Leicestershire managed to reach 120-1 by lunch, putting Kent on the back foot.

Matt Parkinson was the standout bowler for Kent, taking 7-104, and is on the verge of achieving his career-best figures. His performance included a hat-trick opportunity, which he narrowly missed. However, Kent's decision to bowl first seemed questionable as Leicestershire continued to pile on the runs.

The match also saw some notable fielding lapses from Kent, including a dropped catch by Ben Compton off the fifth ball of the morning. Patel was given a second life when he was on 26, as the ball hit the keeper's glove and fell short of the first slip.

Ahmed and Patel both reached their half-centuries with sixes, showcasing their aggressive intent. However, the afternoon session was more competitive, with Parkinson breaking the partnership by dismissing Patel and Lewis Hill in quick succession.

Ahmed reached his century with a single off Parkinson, but soon after, Peter Handscomb was dismissed lbw by Joey Evison. Parkinson eventually got the better of Ahmed, with Tawanda Muyeye taking a low catch.

By tea, Kent was a bowler down as stand-in skipper Grant Stewart limped off with a hamstring injury. Louis Kimber and Ben Green fell in quick succession, giving Parkinson another shot at a hat-trick, which he couldn't complete.

The day ended with Leicestershire adding 20 useful runs in the final overs, putting them in a strong position heading into the second day. The match continues to be a test of Kent's resilience and Leicestershire's dominance in the County Championship Division Two.

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