Dickson's 318 powers Kent to 701

Sean Dickson tore through the record books on Tuesday after he scored a brutal triple century that took Kent to 7-701declared against Northamptonshire at Beckenham.

The 25-year-old South Africa-born opener became the first Kent batsman since the Second World War to pass 300 while his partnership of 382 with former England batsman Joe Denly, who scored 182, was a club record for any wicket.

Full scorecard: Kent v Northamptonshire

Having started the day on 210, Dickson was eventually out for 318 - having hit 31 fours and three sixes in nearly eight-and-a half hours at the crease.

"The shot I went out to was the first shot I played – barring one or two – where I played out of character for my whole innings," said Dickson, who eventually holed out to long-on from ball No.408. 

"I felt that I wanted to be a bit selfish, in a way, a bit ruthless and really put it to them and show everyone what I can do at this level.

"I wasn’t trying to do anything funny. I put away the bad ball, rotated (the strike) as much as I can and I had very good partners at the other end to keep me going and focused for that length of time."

Dickson fell just 14 runs short of the highest ever first-class score for Kent, the 332 made by Bill Ashdown against Essex in 1934.

"A lot of people have been asking me if I was thinking about the last 14 runs for the No.1 Kent score of all time but to be honest I’m just very overwhelmed," Dickson added.

"I didn’t ever expect myself to get to that milestone but here we stand and I couldn’t be happier. 

"This is my second full season … I don’t really know how I did that. It’s just overwhelming at this stage.

"I‘m just excited to see what’s to come.

"Hopefully I get an opportunity to beat that highest score (for Kent) but at the moment let’s just leave it up there for one of the greats." 

Australia's George Bailey was also in the runs on Tuesday, with the Hampshire captain's century the centrepiece of a huge total against Surrey in the First Division of the English County Championship.

Bailey's 161 was the third and largest hundred in the visitors' imposing first-innings score of 7-648declared on the second day of four at The Oval. 

Title-chasers Hampshire also saw former Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Ervine make 83 and Ian Holland an unbeaten 58.

Surrey closed on 1-113, with the in-form Mark Stoneman out for 57.

Meanwhile South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir ensured batsmen were not the only ones enjoying themselves on Tuesday by taking 5-98 as Durham were reduced to 8-274 in reply to Derbyshire's 368 in a Second Division clash at Chesterfield.