Carberry Hits Impressive Century on Opening Day

Hampshire:
Tom Alsop, Michael Carberry, Will Smith (c), Sean Ervine, Adam Wheater, Lewis McManus, Ryan McLaren, Chris Wood, James Tomlinson, Mason Crane, Brad Taylor, Brad Wheal, Joe Weatherley.
Kent:
Sam Northeast (c), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Sean Dickson, Joe Denly, Adam Ball, Alex Blake, Adam Rouse (wk), Mitch Claydon, Charlie Hartley, Hugh Bernard, Adam Riley, Imran Qayyum.

Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry (104*) made a promising start to his preparations for the 2016 season, hitting a fluent unbeaten century on the opening day of the two-day friendly against Kent at the The Ageas Bowl.

Despite the early wicket of Tom Alsop (0), who was unfortunate to be run-out without facing a delivery, Carberry and skipper Will Smith (31) saw off a tricky early period in the innings against young seamers Charlie Hartley and Hugh Bernard.

But it was the experienced seamer Mitchell Claydon who made the breakthrough - Joe Denly taking the catch in the slips to dismiss Smith.

Batting at four, Adam Wheater showed glimpses of his fluent best before he was bowled by spinner Imran Qayyum to leave the home side 151-3.

It was 21-year old Lewis McManus who joined Carberry at the crease and he looked impressive throughout his unbeaten knock of 36, taking a particular liking to the Kent spinners, hitting two big sixes on the leg-side.

As the pair continue to push the Hampshire total on at a positive rate, Carberry deservedly reached his century in 187 balls (1 six, 12 fours).

Carberry & McManus reached an unbeaten partnership of 60 at the end of the afternoon session as Hampshire finished on 211-3, which ended up being the end of the day as heavy rain ruled out any chance of play after tea.