Darren Stevens struck his third century of the LV County Championship season to propel Kent a significant step closer to confirming their promotion back into Division One at the first attempt.

Kent ended the first day at Uxbridge on a commanding 390 for four, with Martin van Jaarsveld and Sam Northeast also hitting 86 and 84 respectively as Middlesex's bowlers were put to the sword on an unresponsive surface.

If Kent win, they would be overwhelming favourites both to go up and to finish as second division champions.

Middlesex are without Indian Test spinner Murali Kartik, who badly bruised a hand in the nets yesterday, and on a dry pitch it will be a surprise if Kent's two spinners do not play a big part in deciding the outcome of the match.

Middlesex experienced a chastening day after captain Shaun Udal lost the toss.

Only Tim Murtagh bowled with any real threat, and the club's supporters will be worried that this campaign could see an end to their proud record of never having finished bottom of the County Championship.

Northeast, the highly-talented 19-year old, was particularly severe on Steve Finn when the fast bowler pitched short, hooking him for one of his 12 fours and also punishing him crisply through the covers off the back foot.

He and Rob Key added an untroubled 116 for Kent's first wicket, and it was a surprise when Key, on 46, chipped a tame return catch to Chris Silverwood.

Silverwood, bafflingly, had not bowled until 90 runs were on the board, but Middlesex could not build on his eventual breakthrough, three overs before lunch, or on an excellent post-interval spell of 7-1-20-2 by Murtagh.

Northeast was just three runs short of matching his career-best score, and sensing a maiden first-class century, when he tried to cut Murtagh and edged behind.

His 114-ball innings was a fine effort but his dismissal was soon followed by that of Geraint Jones, who shouldered arms and lost his off stump, to leave Kent in danger of underachievement at 156 for three.

Stevens and Van Jaarsveld simply set about batting out the rest of the afternoon session, with the big-hitting Stevens unconcerned about taking 38 minutes to get off the mark.

At tea Kent were back on track for the big total they sought, with Van Jaarsveld already past his half-century in a score of 235 for three.

The final session was dominated by Stevens, who accelerated and in one 13-over period hit 10 boundaries to overtake his partner.

The second new ball, taken at 313 for three, could not slow Stevens' advance and his 18th four, driven through mid-wicket, saw him to three figures.

Van Jaarsveld had made 86, from a more sedate 158 balls with 10 fours, when he was athletically held high to his right by Adam London at short extra cover, to give the suffering Finn a wicket, but Justin Kemp stayed with Stevens to the close.

Stevens, however, was put down by Dawid Malan at slip off Gareth Berg in the day's final over before marching off with 24 fours in his unbeaten 129 from 153 balls.