Fast bowler Oliver Newby provided Lancashire coach Peter Moores with the biggest positive to come out of their drawn two-day friendly match against Kent at Beckenham.

Newby bowled 16 overs on his return to action after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury last May.

He took one wicket yesterday in Kent’s second innings, going for only seven runs in a five-over spell.

“Bowling in the nets and indoors is a totally different atmosphere to bowling outside, and I was a bit nervous because this is the first game I have played in 10 months,” said Newby.

“I’ve been bowling really well in the nets, so I just wanted to emulate that as best I could out there. The wicket was a bonus.

“It came out really well. It’s a slow pitch, but I tried to hit my lengths. There’s not a lot of margin for error, which is good for the bowlers in a pre-season friendly.”

Newby had Sam Northeast brilliantly caught by Steven Croft at point, who later helped Tom Smith get Darren Stevens (40) with another catch of note as Kent posted 82-2 from 25 overs second time around.

Kyle Hogg and Smith also bowled tight spells to peg Northeast and Stevens back after they started the day in aggressive fashion.

With Lancashire having closed their first innings on 84-3, they were set a victory target of 253 in two sessions.

Their batting is still a bit ring-rusty, with Smith, Croft, Mark Chilton and Gareth Cross all falling in the twenties. Paul Horton top scored with 47 as they closed on 204-6 from 61 overs.

The two counties will play a 40-over match at the same venue today.