Glenn Phillips quickens a pace as Gloucestershire prefer a bottom battle

• Glenn Phillips made 125 on his first-class debut this summer.
• Kent won the toss and elected to bowl first.
• It was only the second time this season that Gloucestershire passed 280.

Glenn Phillips scored 125 on his first-class debut this summer, aided by Miles Hammond’s half-century and Oli Price’s career-best unbeaten 48 on his 21st birthday.

It was only the second time this season that Gloucestershire passed 280 in their first innings at the seventh attempt, leaving Kent with a lot of work to do if they want to force a result in a game considered crucial in the battle to stay in Division One.

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On a hot day, Kent won the toss and elected to bowl first, but they were soon in command, with Matt Milnes claiming three early wickets to reduce the visitors to 46 for 3.

After the interval, Hammond and Phillips brought up three figures for the fourth wicket from only 154 deliveries.

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Phillips remained calm and completed his seventh first-class century in 124 deliveries. In which 13 fours and a delicious straight six off South African spinner George Linde. The 25-year-old Kiwi international had only 109 runs in six first-class innings for Gloucestershire last summer, but he easily surpassed that total on a scorching Canterbury afternoon.