Kent 281 without loss drew with Hampshire

KENT captain Rob Key and his predecessor David Fulton batted all day to secure a worthy Canterbury Week draw with Hampshire.

On a easing St Lawrence pitch the county openers scored their maiden hundreds of the summer to thwart visiting skipper Shane Warne who sent down 29 overs without taking a wicket.

In the process the pair broke their own record opening stand against Hampshire of 266 scored here two years ago and were within 19 of equalling Kent’s best ever first wicket stand when the sides shook hands on a draw.

Fulton’s chanceless and unbeaten 134 came from 310 balls and included 18 fours while Key finished with 136 from 312 deliveries and with 17 boundaries.

Key offered just one chance to Warne, when two short of his hundred, but John Crawley at short-leg was unable to grab the opportunity which went to ground at the third attempt.

Warne, who was without his England bowler Chris Tremlett through a rub injury, rang the changes and used 10 bowlers, but to no avail.

Even wicketkeeper Nic Pothas was given a go taking the new ball while still wearing his pads, he send down two successive maidens but was unable to prize out either of Kent’s openers.

Scorecard

Kent first innings

D P Fulton lbw b Thornely 14
R W T Key c Carberry b Thornely 27
M van Jaarsveld b Tremlett 34
M J Walker c Warne b Mascarenhas 52
D I Stevens c Ervine b Tremlett 8
D Bravo c Warne b Ervine 31
G O Jones lbw b Warne 35
T Henderson c Ervine b Warne 59
A Khan not out 5
M M Patel c Ervine b Udal 1
M J Saggers b Warne 0

Extras 19

Total 285 all out after 93.4 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-38, 2-56, 3-114, 4-132, 5-173, 6-186, 7-277, 8-282, 9-285.

Bowling: Bruce 11-4-31-0, Tremlett 16-3-56-2, Thornely 17-2-62-2, Mascarenhas 19-10-29-1, Ervine 6-2-18-1, Warne 11.4-1-26-3, Udal 13-2-54-1.

Hampshire first innings

M A Carberry lbw b Khan 0
J H K Adams c Key b Stevens 38
J P Crawley c Jones b Khan 189
S M Ervine c Jones b Khan 15
D J Thornely c Jones b Henderson 52
N Pothas c&b van Jaarsveld 52
A D Mascarenhas c Stevens b Petel 131
S K Warne not out 44

Extras 33

Total 554 for seven declared

Fall of wicket: 1-3, 2-148, 3-193, 4-308, 5-312, 6-486, 7-554.

Bowling: Khan 27-4-86-3, Henderson 24-7-84-1, Bravo 19-3-92-0, Saggers 15.2-1-59-0, Stevens 23.4-5-73-1, Patel 31.3-5-108-1, van Jaarsveld 5-1-37-1.

Kent second innings

D P Fulton not out 134
R W T Key not out 136

Extras 11

Total 281 without loss after 102 overs

Bowling: Bruce 17-3-59-0, Mascarenhas 8-2-24-0, Warne 32-13-54-0, Ervine 9-2-42-0, Thornely 8-2-20-0, Udal 15-4-39-0, Crawley 2-0-8-0, Adams 2-1-5-0, Pothas 6-2-12-0, Carberry 4-0-16-0.

Bonus points: Kent 7pts, Hampshire 12pts.