Ben Dawkins and Sam Northeast both hit centuries as Kent dominated the first day of their County Championship Division Two game with Durham, posting 385-4.

Dawkins, 19, hit his maiden first-class century, finishing on 181no, while Northeast made 141 – their partnership of 303 was Kent’s highest for any wicket against Durham.

Although England captain Ben Stokes dismissed Zak Crawley for 30, Durham struggled in the field, dropping both Dawkins and Northeast before they reached three figures.

However, they dragged themselves back into the contest with three late wickets and Ben Raine ended day one with 2-72.

Crawley struck two boundaries in the opening over after Kent chose to bat. He looked like he was getting the better of Stokes, driving him through the covers for four and then producing a straight drive that flew to the boundary, but he then hit him straight to Matthew Potts at cover.

However, Dawkins moved to fifty when he pushed Kasey Aldridge for three and Kent reached 115-1 at lunch.

The pitch was not entirely lifeless, with several short-pitched deliveries flying over Durham’s wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson.

But nor was it chanceless – Dawkins was on 63 when he edged Raine, but David Bedingham missed an easy slip catch, while Northeast was on 73 when he tried to drive Aldridge but was put down by Raine at backward point.

Dawkins was the first to cash in, edging Aldridge for four through the vacant slip cordon to reach three figures and Kent were 247-1 at tea.

Northeast, who re-joined Kent during the winter, subsequently took a single from Aldridge to bring up his first century for the club since September 2017 when he made 110 in a draw at Chester-le-Street.

Dawkins drilled Stokes through midwicket to bring up his 150, but the stand was finally ended when Northeast edged Raine to Ben McKinney at slip.

This sparked a mini-collapse. After waiting for the best part of five hours, Tawanda Muyeye nicked off to Potts and was caught by Aldridge for one, before Daniel Bell-Drummond also went for one, caught at gully by Alex Lees off Raine.

Dawkins, however, survived until stumps, alongside Chris Benjamin, who was unbeaten on six.