Ben Compton’s career-best score helped Kent to a Rothesay County Championship Division 2 draw against leaders Leicestershire in Canterbury on Friday.
Opener Compton hit 221 and Harry Finch made 54 not out, while Rehan Ahmed returned 3-134, but the chances of a positive result were effectively neutered on day three when a mere 9.5 overs were bowled.
Kent, who had reached 445-8 when bad light stopped play, trailing by 26 runs, stay bottom while Leicestershire remain top.
Head coach Adam Hollioake said: “Unfortunately, the rain on the third day put an end to any chance of a result, I guess, but it was a really good wicket.
“I think there’s a couple of positive signs there, coming through. I loved the way Parky (Matt Parkinson) bowled.
“When he came on, on the first day, there was a feeling of ‘Here we go again’ – we could be in the field here for another massive score – but the way he locked down that end and was wise enough to go around the wicket, making use of a little bit of foot holes, was really good.
“With the bat, we applied ourselves really well, as well.
“It would have been easy to sell our wickets cheaply – as we have done a lot this year – but I felt Ben Compton was brilliant again.
“Obviously, he’s been our best player all year. He’s a shining light for the rest of us to try and aspire to so it was fantastic to see him bat like that.
“Even though there were times where he seemed to be cruising, he just played within himself and made sure he put the runs on the board.
“It was a good lesson for the young guys, playing, as well. Obviously, they’re talented kids.
“They’ll learn a lot, just by being around a player of the quality of Ben Compton.”
Conditions were significantly better on Friday morning but, as soon as Kent passed the follow-on target of 321, a draw was inevitable.
Nightwatchman George Garrett survived 67 balls – spread across days two, three and four – but he was the first man out when he edged Logan van Beek (1-57) to Louis Kimber for 10.
His opening shot of Ben Dawkins’ first-class career was a stylish drive, although he was soon out for seven, inside-edging Ben Green (1-36) behind.
Compton, 111 not out overnight, reached 150 in the penultimate over of the session when he cut Tom Scriven (1-39) for four and Kent got to 307-4 at lunch.
Scriven subsequently had Joey Evison caught behind for 38 but an elegant sweep from Ahmed saw Compton to 200.
He took a single from Rishi Patel (0-52) to pass his previous highest score of 217 and was finally out when he came down the wicket to Ahmed and was stumped by Peter Handscomb.
Ahmed had Matt Parkinson lbw for two and Kent were 429-8 at tea, after which Finch cover-drove Patel to bring up his half-century, but play was suspended at 4.40pm and both sides looked as keen as the umpires to shake hands on the draw.
In total, Kent banked 13 points from the game, albeit they had been issued an eight-point penalty earlier in the week.
