Ripley refusing to get carried away after Northants' sturdy start with the bat

Kent were eventually bowled out for 455, with Darren Stevens smashing an unbeaten 116. Nathan Buck finished with three for 84 for Northants.

And the hosts then started their response in sturdy fashion as openers Ben Curran and Ricardo Vasconcelos formed a solid partnership.

Curran was bowled by Miguel Cummins for 24, but Vasconcelos continued and he will start day three at the County Ground on 54 not out, with Northants 91 for one.

“We didn’t start as well as we’d like to have done (in the morning)," Ripley said. "We leaked a few runs in the first two or three overs and Kent just didn’t let up.

“It does look a good batting pitch, but I’m still reluctant to get carried away about that until both teams have batted first dig.

"It’s up to us to show it is a good pitch and get our score on the board.

“The openers have a nice chemistry between them, they’re good friends and look after each other off the field as well.

"I was really pleased with the start, it took a little bit of the sting out of it but there’s still a lot of runs for us to find.”

Kent's Stevens has enjoyed a fine start to the County Championship season thanks to his first-innings heroics with the bat.

And Stevens said: “I’m really appreciative of the tail helping me out.

"I was an angry man when (Harry) Podmore got out because I thought we were going really nicely and I’d not batted with Miguel before!

“So I said to him ‘do you want to face spin or seam?’ and he said ‘I’m good, man’. Finally getting to 450 was great and we’re pleased with that.

“We bowled pretty poorly but Miguel looks like he’s a bit of a handful and I think he’ll be key for us.

"I think that’s one of these situations where seamers are looking to tie an end up while the quicker bowlers hopefully do the damage.”