KENT’S rain-affected Frizzell Championship clash with Gloucestershire petered out into a draw after the respective skippers failed to hammer out a last day run-chase deal.

Not that there was any surprise in that, a quick look back at the Wisden Almanack report from the corresponding game here last year would have made even the most ardent of gamblers back a draw.

Just over 12 months ago Gloucestershire’s young skipper Chris Taylor was roundly criticised for brokering an agreement in his first game in charge that ended in an enterprising seven-wicket win for Kent off the back of centuries from Michael Carberry and Rob Key.

Indeed, David Fulton’s side sailed home with 19 overs to spare last April having been set a generous target of 302 in 80 overs, so there was no fear of Taylor getting his fingers burnt again.

Having secured a first inning lead of 111 by dismissing Gloucestershire for 249 by mid-day, Kent were keen to cut a deal in a game that lost 86 overs to rain and a sodden outfield - but Taylor was having none of it.

With tongue firmly in cheek visiting captain Fulton proffered a target of 270 but Taylor, who might have been tempted by 220 at about three an over, turned him down leaving Kent to bat out the game.

It hurt the cause of making a match of it that the outfield at the Bristol county ground resembled a meadow, ensuring boundaries were few and far between and runs hard to come by throughout the four days.

The hallowed, if overly long turf, was even the subject of debate between the skippers who agreed it should not be mown for fear that a quicker outfield may benefit one of the two sides.

So, with no deal on the table Kent, aided by a couple of dropped catches, where allowed to use the last afternoon for valuable batting practice.

Fresh from a first inning century, Matthew Walker was on 28 when Kadeer Ali dropped a looping chance at point allowing the little left-hander to go on and post 56 from 119 balls before his demise five balls after tea.

Walker’s fourth-wicket partner Darren Stevens also enjoyed a let-off when on 12 as Steve Kirby grassed a return chance in his follow-through enabling Stevens to reach his second Kent 50 from 111-balls, before being bowled by Tim Hanock.

The sides finally shook hands on the draw at 5.20pm, by which time Kent had reached 229 for five for an overall lead in the game of 340.

Kent, courtesy of their batting superiority and the centuries from Rob Key and Walker, took home 11 points to the hosts eight.