Kent v Surrey day four

A four-day championship game that lost 257 overs - the equivalent of 16 hours to rain and bad light - ended in a thrilling batting exhibition from Kent's Joe Denly and Rob Key as the hosts chased in vain for a precious batting bonus point that might help keep them in the LV Championship title race.

After a first day wash out, relegation threatened Surrey batted almost 107 overs spread over the final three days of the game before declaring on 307-9 to leave them with only three batting bonus points for their efforts.

The bleak September weather had been partially brightened by a marvellous Mark Ramprakash innings of 127 that included six sixes and 12 fours. It was his 101st first-class ton and his 50th for Surrey.

Otherwise, it was paltry fare for a patient crowd as the rest of the entire Browncaps batting order struggled to get the ball off the square.

Usman Afzaal batted for 208 minutes between showers for 67 while Matt Spriegel used up 135 balls in reaching an unbeaten 42 before the declaration came just after 3pm on Sunday.

Amjad Khan and Yasir Arafat finished with three wickets apiece, Ryan McLaren two and Robbie Joseph one, his 50th first-class wicket of the summer.

It left Kent with 33 overs of the game in order to try and reach 200 in fading light for a batting bonus point, what transpired was like Twenty20 without the fielding restrictions.

After 18 overs Kent’s openers had 144 on the board, at the same stage Surrey had mustered 44!

The ball was flying to all parts, Denly clattered three sixes and 10 fours in reaching 80 from 60-balls for his part in a stunning opening stand of 159 – Kent’s highest in the championship season.

Denly fell when attempting an outrageous steer to third man and though Key plundered on for an unbeaten 76 with 13 fours, bad light returned with 12 overs remaining forcing the umpires and the players off for the last time with Kent on 160-1, some 40 short of their extra point.

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