Overseas batsman Hashim Amla marked his Championship debut for Nottinghamshire with an elegant century as last year's runners-up built a commanding total against Kent.

South African Amla, available for the opening four Championship matches of the season, hit 19 fours from 202 balls before he was dismissed by Darren Stevens for 129 as Nottinghamshire reached 396 for eight.

Neil Edwards, another winter signing from Somerset, hit 85 in his first competitive county match since July 2008, while captain Chris Read made a fluent 62.

Amjad Khan was the pick of the Kent attack with three for 85, and fellow international Ryan Sidebottom will be hoping to have a similar impact on day two.

On what was a cold, overcast day, Kent skipper Rob Key had no hesitation in inviting the hosts to bat, particularly given the well-known vulnerability of the Nottinghamshire openers in recent seasons.

But Edwards demonstrated excellent early-season form with several drives through the covers, as well as seizing on anything short to pull through midwicket.

The left-hander was unperturbed by the early loss of two wickets in three balls to Khan, who found the edge of Bilal Shafayat's bat for a fine diving catch by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.

Mark Wagh immediately followed as he was turned completely square by a swinging delivery, with James Tredwell making no mistake at first slip.

This only brought Amla to the crease and the 27-year-old immediately demonstrated why he is ranked number two in the world in Test cricket with classy strokes all around the wicket.

His first nine scoring shots were all boundaries and the pair put on 103 in 28 overs before Edwards was lbw on the back foot to England off-spinner Tredwell.

Another wicket quickly followed as Samit Patel edged Azhar Mahmood down the leg side to Jones, and although Ali Brown hit two sixes in consecutive overs, he was then lbw to the returning Khan for 18.

Nottinghamshire were wobbling on 203 for five but Read, so often their rescuer in 2009, again steadied the ship alongside the assured Amla.

The pair pushed the score on to 328 after tea before Read was run out attempting a dicey single to mid-on.

Key's thoughtful captaincy then bore fruit late on as Amla was stumped down the leg-side off the medium pace of Stevens, and Andre Adams was caught off a top-edged hook to the last ball of the day from Philip Edwards.