Felix Organ celebrated his maiden first-class century in only his third Specsavers County Championship for Hampshire.

The academy graduate showed a delightful mixture of defensive resolve and flair, sharing partnerships of 95 with fellow opener Ian Holland (60) and 166 with Rilee Rossouw (92) before Kent took late wickets with the second new ball.

With James Vince and Sam Northeast away with England and England Lions respectively, Kyle Abbott stood in as Hampshire’s captain and, after winning the toss, elected to bat on an almost identical track to the one Hampshire scored 539 on against Warwickshire last week.

With Weatherleyout with a fractured ankle and Oli Soames injured, Hampshire's new opening pair have responded with a century apiece appear.

Organ proved his worth a week after Holland churned out his first professional hundred.

Together they saw off the new ball with relative ease, neither offering a chance, with Holland playing a series of glorious off-side shots.

While Holland played with a glimmer of attacking intent, Organ curbed his aggression – with his wicket prized more importantly than runs in the morning session.

Holland followed his century a week ago with a 74-ball fifty before edging Harry Podmore to Sean Dickson at first slip.

In the next over, Ajinkya Rahane, on his last outing as Hampshire’s overseas player, drilled a cut shot powerfully to point only to see Daniel Bell-Drummond produce a stunning low catch.

That mini-wobble would have worried the Hampshire dressing room, who had elected to bring in Mason Crane as an extra bowling option in the absence of Northeast.

But they needn’t have worried as Organ and Rilee Rossouw eased up and down the gears in a 166-run partnership.

Organ’s innings was particularly curious as he reached his half-century in 158 balls, but with three sixes to his name.

Rossouw showed maturity in reining back his swashbuckling instincts, during an 80-ball fifty.

But his departure, caught well at first slip attempting a reverse sweep, was the first of three wickets to fall for 22 runs in five overs.

Among the collapse, Organ ran the happiest three of his life to reach three figures in 234 balls; his enthusiasm was matched by a loud reaction from the crowd.

But next ball he nibbled outside off stump and edged behind before Gareth Berg was bowled two balls later – handing Darren Stevens two wickets in an over with the second new ball.

Aneurin Donald furnished the evening session with an eye-catching quick-fire 40.

But before he could match the heights of his 173 and 52 against Warwickshire, the Welshman mistimed a pull and saw that Denly held on to after running back from mid-on.

Keith Barker and Lewis McManus saw Hampshire to the close without further troubles.

Reflecting on his century afterwards, Organ said: “It was awesome.

“I remember the first game I played here and I got a massive clap when I scored a run and thought ‘oh my word this is awesome, I’ve only scored one run’ then today getting a hundred was the best feeling ever.

“I don’t usually play in front of this many people!

“I’ve played here since Under 9s and it all builds up to this. This is what I practice and play for.

“It all comes into one moment of relief, slash this is so cool.

“You always hope that it will happen but after last week, despite only scoring one, I thought I can do this.

“Batting with 'Dutch' (Ian Holland) is easy because he scores quite quickly which means I can just bat, which is the same with Rilee. When they score with good pace it means you can hold in there and take your time.

“I learnt from last week that they are going to bowl well and know I can’t let pressure get to me and play a booming drive, but against spin I didn’t want to stay in and block it. It was about 30 blocks and then a big slog!

“It was a good day but there was a spell with the new ball where it looked like we could have ended up being under 400 for a lot less wickets in hand.”

Kent assistant coach Allan Donald said: “It’s an absolute peach of a wicket.

“They played very well, we took half-chances magnificently. I’m proud of how we stuck at it.

“That first hour tomorrow is key to bowl them out quickly and get batting.”

Hampshire first innings
FS Organ c †Robinson b Stevens 100
IG Holland c Dickson b Podmore 60
AM Rahane c Bell-Drummond b Milnes 1
RR Rossouw c Dickson b Rayner 92
AHT Donald c Denly b Stewart 40
GK Berg b Stevens 0
LD McManus † not out 20
KHD Barker not out 1
Extras 26 (b 9, lb 9, nb 6, w 2)
TOTAL 340-6 (96 overs)
Yet to bat: KJ Abbott (c), MS Crane, FH Edwards
Fall of wickets: 1-95 (Ian Holland, 40.1 ov), 2-96 (Ajinkya Rahane, 41.3 ov), 3-262 (Rilee Rossouw, 77.2 ov), 4-286 (Felix Organ, 82.1 ov), 5-286 (Gareth Berg, 82.3 ov), 6-318 (Aneurin Donald, 89.2 ov).
BOWLING: HW Podmore 17-4-34-1, DI Stevens 20-6-56-2, ME Milnes 16-3-45-1, G Stewart 14-1-83-1, OP Rayner 17-5-47-1, JL Denly 5-1-24-0, DJ Bell-Drummond 7-1-33-0