ROB JOSEPH marked his championship bow with the wicket of Sven Koenig as Middlesex reached 146 for two in Southgate.

After electing to bat first, Middlesex made a steady start through left-handers Koenig and Ben Hutton, who added 68 before Joseph struck.

Swinging the ball in, Joseph forced Koenig (31) to chop onto his stumps as he attempted to force a shot off the back foot.

Kent used four bowlers in the opening 90 minutes, but Kiwi Ian Butler again suffered no ball troubles conceding three in his first three overs.

Butler returned for a second stint at the Waterfall Road End to removed Nick Compton three overs before lunch to make it 109 for two.

Compton, fencing at a lifting delivery, gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien to go for just two.

At the other end Ben Hutton took his score on to 77, while Owais Shah hit out after lunch by hitting Patel for a straight six to move on to 19.