Kent played-out a draw at Leicestershire on Wednesday afternoon in a Specsavers County Championship game which lost almost two full days to wintry weather.

The sides were forced off three times due to snow and sleet on Tuesday with several more stoppages for a variety of reasons over the other three days.

The game was memorable for another ton for Daniel Bell-Drummond, who also shared a century stand with newcomer Adam Rouse and Championship runs for Alex Blake, though Sean Dickson’s dismissal for handling the ball - the first Kent man to fall in that manner since 1872, will be remembered the longest.

After electing to partake in a toss, and winning it, Kent were bowled out for 264, of which Bell-Drummond scored 124.

The hosts were reduced to 15-2 in reply thanks to two catches from keeper Rouse off Darren Stevens (3-110) and Mitch Claydon (3-99) but captain Mark Cosgrove (122) and ex-Kent man Neil Dexter (131) turned the tide and an unbeaten 42 from all-rounder Wayne White and a predictably lively 17 not out from last man Charlie Shreck secured the hosts maximum batting points on the final day and a lead of 137.

At 25-2 with 40-odd overs remaining there were perhaps some butterflies but Dickson (34 not out) and skipper Sam Northeast (31 not out) guided the hosts to a draw which sealed a 10-point haul.

Kent seamer Mitch Claydon said the conditions were a huge factor, adding: “Darren Stevens, who has played 20 years of county cricket, said it was as cold as he’s ever been on a cricket pitch. The lads had two pairs of trousers on, five tops including two jumpers, woolly hats, and it was pretty horrible.”

After the wash-out at Worcester to begin the season, the game at Grace Road at least afforded Kent some time in the middle, and Claydon admitted: “We’ve waited so long to actually get out there and bowl, and we were probably a little bit too eager to be honest.

“Cosgrove played beautifully and it’s a great cricket pitch for this time of year, their groundsman deserves full credit.”

Rouse admitted the game had been: “pretty frustrating - even more so after not getting on at all at Worcester and obviously we then had a week off, so to come to this (weather) is a bit frustrating for the boys. There’s still a lot of optimism around the camp though - the boys are just eager to get out there and play cricket.”

Dickson added: “The boys would have preferred a win, but we’ll take it on the chin and move forward – there’s a lot of positives to take out of the game as well as negatives, and we can work on the negatives.”