KENT’S two captains scored contrasting centuries as the county’s rain-affected three day friendly with Sri Lanka petered out into a draw.

After the loss of Friday’s play to heavy showers, there was little to be derived from the match other than batting practice for the tourists and for Kent to warm up for their Benson & Hedges Cup matches.

That being the case, both teams happily achieved their goals as Kent scored 419 for six declared to more than match the Sri Lankan first innings of 375 all out.

Kent started their reply on the start of the final day, but despite a seemingly confident start were rocked by the loss of Rob Key and Ed Smith inside nine overs.

Kent re-grouped through Fulton and Matthew Walker, who added 164 in 25 overs against a timid and distinctly chilly Sri Lankan attack. Walker added a ‘backs to the wall’ 40, but Fulton played the more forceful and fluent role in reaching his ton from 99 balls with 17 fours and a six.

He added one more six to his boundary count before chopping onto his stumps to become one of three victims for Ruchira Perera.

Walker went five balls later, harshly adjudged leg before when pushing well forward in defence, but that bought together Matthew Fleming and understudy wicketkeeper Geraint Jones for a sixth wicket stand that lifted the spirits and the run rates.

After a reasonably cautious start Fleming and Jones, playing in only his second first-class game, went for their shots to add 176 inside 20 overs.

Once past their 50s both went for and achieved the most outrageous shots in their armoury’s as Sri Lanka, taken from 40 degrees in Sharja seven days ago to play in what seemed like zero temperatures here, struggled to acclimatise.

Fleming’s stroke that posted his 66-ball century was typical of the innings, a shimmy down the pitch to Aravinda de Silva and a heave of his lightweight Salix sent the ball ballooning over the head of a frozen fielder at cover point for six.

The fireworks ended next ball, however, when Fleming missed an outrageous paddle shot through his legs and lost his off stump.

Jones (76 not out) teamed up with James Golding (18 not out) for the final throws of the game and by the time Kent declared at 5.20pm to confirm the draw they had built a first innings lead of 44 at 419 for six.

Fleming’s century had been the third of the match following on from Mahela Jayawardena’s 113-ball hundred on Saturday.

Russel Arnold also chipped in with 81 and there was an emotional return to St Lawrence for de Silva, making his first appearance at the ground he graced for Kent in 1995, he scored a stylish 57 before falling to Martin Saggers.

Fit again after back and groin problems, Saggers was the pick of the Kent attack and finished with four for 84. Golding helped run through the tail to record four for 76, while Ben Trott, also returning from back problems, helped out with two for 109 though not fully match fit.

The Sri Lankan’s had probably hoped for more extended batting practice, but the weather and Kent’s tenacity in the field limited them to just 90.3 overs and 375 all out.