TWO moments of Kent cricketing history helped enliven an otherwise rain-ruined day at Fenner’s where a county development side enjoyed the best of a draw against Cambridge University Centre of cricketing excellence.

Whitstable’s Joe Denly, the 20-year-old right-hander and former England Under-19 player, became the first Kent player to ever score two centuries in a match against the light blues.

He followed his first innings 115 with a stunning unbeaten 107 from 97 balls and with 13 fours and a six as he and Neil Dexter followed their first innings opening stand of 252 with an unbroken 184 second time around before Kent declared, setting a victory target of 269.

For his part Dexter contributed 62 not out to go with his first innings century and take his match aggregate of 178.

Denly became only the 23rd player in county history to score a century in each innings of a first-class game and the first to do it against the students.

With little hope of reaching their victory target in the time remaining, Cambridge had little but pride to play for yet at least there was time for teenager James Iles to become the youngest wicket-taker in Kent history.

Iles, who celebrated his 16th birthday in February, had Ian Massey caught behind off an inside edge by keeper Paul Dixey after the right-hander attempted to pull a ball that was too full for the shot.

Denly then came to the fore again by trapping Grant Celliers leg before wicket with a top-spinner.

Denly impressed greatly here, by controlling his flighted leg-spinners in a gusty wind here was the overall pick of the Kent bowling with three wickets in the game.

Iles too showed great promise and Matt Dennington, as usual, gave his all, but on this performance neither Simon Cusden nor David Stiff, did their prospects of a first team call any good.

Lacking rhythm, pace, accuracy and confidence, both appear as though they need to return to the drawing board if they are to revive their first-class careers.

To make matters worse for the pair, the day ended when wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien, having his first bowl in first-class cricket, pegged back the off stump of Matthew Friedlander with a shooting off-cutter.

It started to rain that very instant and, with the students on 129 for five, the game was declared a draw.