Matthew Walker's second championship hundred of the summer frustrated Lancashire's title-chasing ambitions at Canterbury.

Walker (139no) underpinned Kent's 320 for seven on a day which briefly threatened to go from aggravating to something much worse for Lancashire when Muttiah Muralitharan had to leave the field with discomfort in his bowling arm.

Happily, the master off-spinner returned 23 minutes later - but by stumps in this LV Division One match Lancashire were still left to reflect on a first day which might have considerably better.

Glen Chapple nipped out two wickets in two balls under initial cloud cover, after captain Mark Chilton had surprisingly chosen to field first - but Walker then dug in for a fourth-wicket stand of 123 with Neil Dexter.

The stocky left-hander hit 20 fours - mostly through his favoured off-side - and one straight six off Murali, from 261 balls.

Chapple did the early damage, getting rid of Kent opener Joe Denly and number three Martin van Jaarsveld.

Denly attempted to bail out of a back-foot push at a short ball but got enough of a deflection to be snapped up at first slip by VVS Laxman.

Then Van Jaarsveld went for his second first-ball duck in as many days, lbw pushing forward as Chapple snaked one up the hill from the pavilion end.

Lancashire had chosen Newby in preference to their second spinner Gary Keedy - and the young seamer provided initial justification for his inclusion too, with the big wicket of Kent captain Robert Key - as the hosts reached 50 for three.

Dexter and Walker steadied the ship until the former finally went - to Dominic Cork.

In Murali's 21st over, he reached his half-century of wickets - Geraint Jones lbw on the back foot.

But there was no shifting Walker. He lost his fellow left-handers James Tredwell and Ryan McLaren shortly after tea, the former lbw shouldering arms to Murali and the South African all-rounder departing via a self-inflicted run-out.

Simon Cook joined Walker to annoy Lancashire for another 85 unbroken runs and 22 overs.

The Lancashire attack remained unable to make progress, however, and Murali's return to field was presumably to ensure his eligibility to bowl as soon as he is needed today.