Kent’s winless run extended to eight LV= County Championship games after they were forced to settle for a dramatic draw against Leicestershire at Canterbury.

Jimmy Adams’ side remain bottom of Division 2 but fell narrowly short of a stunning win on the final day of a weather-hit match, though the draw did ensure they avoided the ignominy of defeat to a Leicestershire side who have not won a Championship game since September 2012, a run of 35 straight games.

Kent went into the final day 307 behind and needing two more wickets to begin their own reply, though it took just 12 minutes for Ivan Thomas to have Rob Taylor caught by Matt Coles, who then bowled Charlie Shreck.

Thomas finished with a career-best 4-48 as Kent were handed a victory target of 315 from 91 overs, which were reduced by 20 in two separate rain delays.

Any hopes of a run chase were hit when Joe Denly (9) and Rob Key (7) fell in quick succession to former Kent man Shreck to leave the hosts 40-2 and Key averaging just 14 after six innings this season.

Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendan Nash (49) did however steady the ship with a 105-run partnership and Sam Northeast (37) joined Bell-Drummond on 145-3 and added 57 in 12 overs to sow seeds of hope Kent might be able to chase down the total with overs running out.

Talisman Darren Stevens arrived at the crease and another 48 runs were added in seven overs before Bell-Drummond departed for 103, his fifth First Class century and the first Kent player to achieve the feat this season.

At 250-5 and Stevens and Sam Billings at the crease, needing nine an over to get to the line, the game remained in the balance, however Stevens was controversially caught behind for 34 off 28 balls, as Shreck collected four wickets on his former stomping ground.

Matt Coles was the seventh wicket to fall, departing with Kent still 48 adrift with 23 balls remaining, but Billings and Mitch Claydon ensured no further drama in the dying moments.

On Sunday, Kent made a fine start after winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Coles (4-87) striking with the second ball to dismiss Angus Robson.

However Ned Eckersley (67) and Mark Cosgrove (113) steered the visitors from 31-2 to 264-4 while Neil Pinner (68) and Lewis Hill (57) guided their side past 300 and Taylor’s late 33 not out saw them reach 386, though former Leicestershire man Stevens did collect Kent’s first five-fer of the season (5-88) to complete the innings.

Key and Bell-Drummond departed cheaply at the start of the reply but Denly stood firm to amass 87 in more than 4.5 hours, sharing a season’s best 139-run stand for the fourth wicket with Northeast (84) and guiding the hosts through a tricky spell on Monday evening and into Tuesday.

However when Denly departed with the score on 215, wickets tumbled at an alarming rate, with the final seven wickets falling for the addition of 53 runs in 14 overs, Aussie quick Clint McKay finishing with 6-54, the best figures by a Foxes bowler since Robbie Joseph three years ago.

Leading by 118 on the third afternoon, the visitors failed to get going and Stevens (3-45), Thomas and Coles (2-42) restricted them to 86-7 shortly after tea and ignited hopes of a previously unlikely Kent win.

However McKay (43), Taylor (34) and Jigar Naik (28*) saved the game, helping add 110 to the total which ultimately proved the difference, taking the game out of Kent’s reach.