Khaled Ahmed produced another telling spell with the old ball to take three wickets as Kent bowled Gloucestershire out for 229 in the first innings of their decisive County Championship Division Two clash at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury on Thursday, with a win set to seal promotion to the top flight.

Kent, winning the toss on a green-tinged pitch, put Gloucestershire in and were rewarded with a wicket in the third over as Matt Milnes struck early.

Oliver Price and Tommy Borman rebuilt with a 62-run second-wicket stand before Ekan Singh broke through, and further wickets from Matt Quinn and Keith Dudgeon kept the pressure on.

Price batted well for 52 before falling to Dudgeon, while Borman made 29.

Khaled came into the attack as the fourth bowler but went wicketless in his opening five-over spell, conceding 19 runs.

The Bangladesh pacer found his rhythm when recalled in the 49th over.

His first victim was Dariush Ahmed, who drove at a good-length delivery outside off stump only to edge it onto his stumps.

Next to go was Sai Kishore, the Indian batter caught behind off a rising delivery that he could not leave.

Khaled then bowled Che Simmons with a delivery that came back sharply to uproot the off stump.

He finished with three for 37 from 11 overs, including two maidens.

Milnes was Kent's standout bowler with four for 55, while Quinn, Dudgeon and Singh claimed one each.

The only significant resistance came from Gloucestershire captain James Bracey, who struck 86 off 103 balls and shared a 58-run ninth-wicket stand with Matt Taylor before Milnes returned to end the innings.

It was Khaled's third County Championship appearance of the season.

He had taken 11 wickets across his previous two matches, including five against Lancashire.

Kent closed the day's play on 54 for one in reply after losing Zak Crawley for one in the third over.

News also arrived from Lord's that Northamptonshire, Kent's closest promotion rivals were bowled out for 103 by Middlesex, who were then dismissed for 255 off the final ball of the day, securing a 152-run lead.