WORCESTERSHIRE coach Steve Rhodes criticised Kent's safety-first approach in settling for a draw from the rain-ruined, one-innings Championship match at St Lawrence.

Having lost the entire 312 overs of the opening three days to rain – the first time that has ever happened in a first-class game in Canterbury – the sides were left to mull over the feasibility of a contrived finish on the final day.

Had they won the toss and bowled, Kent would have fancied their chances of forcing a win over the basement side in Division 1, however, once Worcestershire’s Vikram Solanki called correctly, so Rob Key became resigned to banking four points for a draw to stay above Surrey and out of the relegation zone.

Both Key and Martin van Jaarsveld scored centuries as Kent posted 293 for three before declaring at tea. The visitors batted on to reach 110 for three by the time the players shook hands on the draw at 5pm.

Rhodes said: "We're disappointed Kent didn't want to play the game.

"I know the situation we're in and they're in but I'd rather have a game of cricket and give ourselves the chance to win when we've been sat on our backsides for three days."