Rain affected match ends in a draw

The LV= County Championship Division Two match between Kent and Gloucestershire petered out into a draw at Canterbury this afternoon.

The hosts were set 363 to win off a minimum of 73 overs. Rob Key, who made an unbeaten 32 off 100 balls, and Scott Newman played well within themselves. But shortly after lunch wicketkeeper Richard Coughtrie took a fine catch away to his left off the bowling of Will Gidman to see the back of Newman for 17.

With David Payne unable to take the field, owing to a side strain which is likely to sideline the left-arm seamer for a couple of weeks, Paul Muchall relieved Gidman at the Nackington Road End. But it was not long before Muchall – who bowled five no-balls in the space of three overs, including three in his second – was withdrawn from the attack.

In the 30th over, Ben Harmison hit the first boundary in 25 overs when he on-drove Ed Young. But three balls later the former Durham man was walking back to the dressing room having holed out to James Fuller at deep mid-wicket for 20.

Tea had to be taken early due to rain. At 1630 the players shook hands on a draw. Kent finished on 94/2. Gloucestershire taking eight points from the match to Kent’s six.

Earlier in the day, the visitors – resuming their second innings on 191 for three – added a further 66 runs in 21 overs.

In the fifth over, Alex Gidman lifted Mark Davies over long-on for six only to play around a straight delivery from Matt Coles five deliveries later, having contributed 70.

Ian Cockbain went lbw to a ball that skidded on and Hamish Marshall, who recorded his highest score in the County Championship since July 2010, was run out for 74 when Will Gidman called him through for a quick single to Brendan Nash at cover.

Shortly before the declaration, Will Gidman danced down the pitch and smacked James Tredwell straight to mid-on to make it 248 for seven.

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Photo by Sarah Ansell from SarahCanterbury.com