Kent play out rain affected draw at Glamorgan in Specsavers County Championship Division 2
Published: 16:50, 22 June 2016
Kent assistant coach Matt Walker was philosophical after the weather-affected draw at Glamorgan on Wednesday evening.
Mitch Claydon’s match figures of 8-156 and a maiden half century and five dismissals by wicketkeeper Adam Rouse were among the highlights in the rain hit Specsavers County Championship Division 2 draw against at Cardiff.
Walker said: "When you lose a full day to the weather it never helps to get a result. It would have been an interesting finish without the weather, that's for sure.
"We were not at our best, it's fair to say, we were never really in control of the game, but we were never out of it either.
"We'll take the draw and move on."
The 10-point haul took Kent above Gloucestershire and into second in Division 2, though they have played a game more.
The two skippers Jacques Rudolph and Sam Northeast shook hands on a draw with the Welshmen declaring 348 runs ahead in their second innings after another day truncated by rain and bad light, as the weather continues to frustrate Kent’s four-day progress this summer, with another 104.5 overs lost on the opening two days.
Rouse who replaced Sam Billings, resting a bruised thumb, was in the wars himself, suffering a broken and dislocated finger as he kept to Claydon on day two.
He was then forced to retire hurt while batting the following day, returning to make 65 in a stand of 72 with Sean Dickson who hit eight fours and a six in his 75, made off 138 balls.
The pair helped rescue Kent from 85-5, replying to the Welsh county’s 351 all out – Graham Wagg hitting 83 and Craig Meschede 78 in a county record stand of 160 for the seventh wicket. They had been 7-2 at one stage.
James Tredwell (37 not out) and Calum Haggett (24) both added valuable runs as Kent finished on 282, trailing by 69.
Claydon struck early on the final day having out-of-form Rudolph held at long-leg by Haggett.
Mark Wallace was caught behind by substitute keeper Callum Jackson, formerly of Sussex, off Matt Coles for 52, with Aneurin Donald hitting 67.
The day closed with Joe Denly, Tom Latham, Dickson and Northeast taking turns to bowl as the visitors used nine bowlers - though Claydon (3-50) remained the pick.
Walker added: "Mitch has bowled brilliantly and done a great job for for us this season.
"He got his rewards this week with the fivefer and the eight in the match, which is good because he doesn't always get the rewards he deserves."
Kent are back in action when Middlesex and Brendan McCullum visit in NatWest T20 Blast South Group on Friday (7pm).
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Alex Hoad