David Fulton reminded the England selectors of his Ashes credentials with a seventh Championship century of the season as Kent replied strongly to Northamptonshire's 355 all out at Wantage Road.

The 29-year-old opener, tipped for a possible call-up to face Australia at Headingley next week, reached three figures for the third time in as many innings, and finished the day 116 not out with the visitors on 202-1 – a deficit of 153.

Fulton had a stroke of luck on 28 when he miscued a drive off Graeme Swann and Adrian Rollins spilled a straightforward catch at extra cover, the fielder looking to throw the ball up before he had it under control.

But otherwise he unveiled some superb attacking shots and cracked 17 fours in his 146-ball knock, adding an unbroken 174 in 40 overs for the second wicket with Ed Smith (59 not out).

They came together when Michael Strong trapped Robert Key leg-before for 20, and made the most of some less-than-impressive bowling and fielding from a Northants side struggling at the wrong end of the first division table.

Play got under way two and a half hours later as a result of heavy overnight rain, and the hosts added 78 more runs for the loss of their last five wickets.

Martin Saggers reached 50 first-class victims for the summer when he removed Toby Bailey, while Ben Trott wrapped up the innings by sending back David Ripley and Jason Brown with successive balls.

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