IN-FORM Ed Smith was an early Kent casualty at rain-lashed Canterbury today where the second-placed hosts took on Surrey.

Batting first after winning the toss, Smith went in the fifth over of the innings and to his 13th ball faced.

Following a Martin Bicknell leg-cutter down the St Lawrence slope, Smith got an outside edge to Ali Brown at third slip to go without scoring.

Skipper David Fulton upped the tempo with a pulled six off Bicknell on his way to 17 as he and Alex Loudon (7) reached 24 for one when the rain arrived at 11.49am.

The players duly took an early lunch and further rain forced umpires Nigel Cowley and Alan Whitehead to set a further inspection at 3.15pm.

Kent made one change to the side that drew with Warwickshire last week, dropping Ben Trott to bring in left-arm spinner Rob Ferley.

Kent: Fulton, Smith, Loudon, Bevan, Walker, Dennington, O'Brien, Ferley, Patel, Butler, Joseph.