Easy start in new-look season opener
The traditional county curtain-raiser has a new look this year, with the game transplanted from Lord's to Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium, while pink Kookaburra's and floodlights are also in use.
Those developments are part of a wider plan to usher in the era of day/night Test cricket, an agenda which is unlikely to have been either derailed or dramatically advanced by events on day one of this high-profile trial.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDi Venuto hit a sprightly 131 and Coetzer, who batted all day, a more stately 123 not out as the champions made mostly serene progress to 329-3 after winning the toss.
Kent, meanwhile, have appointed Jamie Clifford as their new permanent chief executive.
Thirty-four-year-old lifelong Kent supporter Clifford took over as acting chief executive following the retirement of Paul Millman last year.
David Warner helped the Delhi Daredevils to a comfortable 40-run Indian Premier League victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders with a sparkling century in Delhi.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWarner smashed an unbeaten 107 off 69 deliveries while England's Paul Collingwood hit 53 as the Daredevils reached 177-4.
In reply, Chris Gayle hit 30, but the Knight Riders were restricted to 137-9, their fourth defeat in seven matches.