Kent's Geraint Jones in action against Essex Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent are still searching for their first win of the summer after drawing with Essex at Chelmsford in Division 1 of the LV= County Championship on Thursday.

Kent set Essex a final-day victory target of 338 but once England opener Alastair Cook went for 72 to the part-time leg spin of Joe Denly, they never looked interested in chasing the runs down.

The final day also highlighted Kent’s lack of firepower in the bowling department.

WIthout Robbie Joseph, the rested Amjad Khan and James Tredwell, who is on England duty, Kent were forced to turn to Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld, who bowled 19 and 27 overs respectively.

James Hockley took 1-8 from five overs before being forced off with a hamstring injury.

Azhar Mahmood took the wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate and it was left to Tom Westley and Mark Pettini to guide Essex to safety on 254-4 when the two captains shook hands on a draw.

One positive for Kent was the return to form of some of their batsmen, although openers Denly and Rob Key both struggled with the bat.

Geraint Jones hit an explosive 135 from 177 balls in Kent’s first innings of 474 with Darren Stevens continuing his good form with 100. Sam Northeast scored 65, Mahmood made 64 and van Jaarsveld hit 51.

Essex recovered from 115-4 in reply to reach 341 despite three wickets for Makhaya Ntini and 5-63 from Mahmood.

Kent’s quest for quick runs never materialised as they were all out for 204 in their second innings, losing five wickets on the final morning for just 54 runs.

Northeast was the pick of the batsman with an impressive 71 – his second half-century of the game – while Jones made 36 and Key reached 25, his highest score of the season to date in the county championship.