Honours even at Bristol
Saturday 18th August 2012
Gloucestershire's weather-affected LV= County Championship Division Two game against Kent at Bristol petered out into a draw – but ironically finished in blazing sunshine.
Kentfinished the fourth day on 300 for nine declared before the hosts opted to declare their own first innings with just one run on the board.
It was an unsatisfactory conclusion for both sides, who finished with six points each.
With almost three days of the game washed out by downpours, Kent resumed their first innings on 29 for one from the 11.2 overs which had been possible on the second morning.
Kentsoon lost Sam Northeast, who had added only one run to his total when he departed for 13, snapped up by Rob Nicol's brilliant slip catch off left-armer David Payne.
New batsman Brendan Nash survived a confident appeal for a catch behind from the first delivery he faced, but went on to share a partnership of 95 for the third wicket with Alex Blake.
Nash was four runs short of his half-century when he edged a ball from Liam Norwell to slip, this time presenting Nicol with a straightforward chance to pouch his second catch of the morning.
Blake had already posted his own fifty from 77 balls, hitting nine fours, and was unbeaten on 64 as Kent reached 142 for three at lunch.
Soon after the interval they lost Mike Powell for seven when Norwell clipped the top of his off stump, and Blake then perished for 73 as he attempted to crash a delivery from Will Gidman through the off side but edged to wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty.
Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones pushed Kent past 200 to collect their first bonus point, but Gloucestershire bagged their second when Stevens became the sixth wicket to fall, caught on the boundary by James Fuller off Nicol's bowling for 45.
Simon Cook edged to Ian Cockbain at second slip for 15 to give Gidman his second scalp, and he quickly picked up a third when Mark Davies edged to slip for four.
Adam Riley contributed only two before being caught behind off Payne, but former England star Geraint Jones made an unbeaten 65 to help steer Kent to their third bonus point.
Photo: Sarah Ansell