KENT batsman Rob Key did his England claims the power of good by hitting a patient and technically gifted 164 in difficult conditions on day two of this Frizzell Championship match with Gloucestershire.

Key joined forces with Matthew Walker (109) to add 260 for Kent’s third wicket as the visitors made light of near ideal bowling conditions and a painfully slow outfield to help the visitors reach an excellent 339 for six at stumps at the mid-point of this rain-affected game.

As Key walked out to bat on his overnight score of 26, the Nevil Road public address announcer heaped pressure on his shoulders by telling the scant crowd that England coach and selector Duncan Fletcher was at the ground.

As it was, Fletcher had left by mid-day after an early finish to his meeting with Gloucestershire coaching staff, but Key was determined to stay a while longer.

In the most testing conditions of poor light, a seaming pitch, and a long wet outfield that gave batsmen no value for their shots, both Key and Walker played innings of great tenacity and no little courage.

Gloucestershire seamers Jonathan Lewis and Steve Kirby found lift and lateral movement throughout the overcast morning session, yet both Kent batsmen stood firm.

Key offered one tough chance to the sixth ball of the day when his uppish cut off Lewis stung the cold hands of Sri Lankan Upul Chandana, but otherwise the duo batted through two sessions to post Kent’s second highest third-wicket stand against Gloucestershire.

Walker, fully recovered from a first day blow on the head from a rearing delivery from Kirby, was first to three figures but it came in fortunate circumstances.

The left-hander’s drive to mid-off was picked up by Chris Taylor whose throw to the non-striker’s end came perilously close to running Key out before the brace of overthrows posted Walker’s ton from 243 balls and with only five fours.

Key reached the landmark in the following over with 12 fours and from six more deliveries for a 25th first-class century, his 21st for Kent and second against Gloucestershire.

Even when play was twice halted for the loss of 12 overs because of water seeping up from the ancient County Ground drainage system, Walker and Key held their concentration.

Rather ironically the stand ended in the best conditions of the day as the duo first made an attempt to increase their scoring rate.

In attempting his trademark square slash-drive against Kirby, Walker edged to keeper Stephen Adshead who took the catch at the second attempt to end Walker’s 325-minute stay.

His loss sparked a flurry of three further wickets as Darren Stevens (5) and Geraint Jones (2) quickly followed.

After seeing his cover drive parried by Taylor, Key sent Stevens back only to see the resultant direct hit from Alex Gidman find the non-striker short of his ground.

Then, just six balls into his stay, Jones was bamboozled by Chandana’s top-spinner and palpably leg before to make it 295 for five.

Key and Matt Dennington saw their side through to a third batting bonus point at 300 and only then would Key allow himself the luxury of playing a few expansive shots.

He deposited a short one from Chandana into the tennis courts for six but, in trying a similar pull shot off the pace of Kirby, perished when toe-ending a catch to Adshead.

Key looked distinctly unhappy to be given out after a seven-and-a-half hour marathon with 18 fours and a six, but this was an innings of Test class - even if Mr Fletcher failed to see it.