County Championship: Ben Compton hits 221 as Kent draw with Leicestershire

The County Championship match between Division Two leaders Leicestershire and Kent at Canterbury ended in a draw, after the hosts reached 445-8 on day four, trailing by 24 when bad light stopped play.

Ben Compton hit a career-best 221 and Harry Finch made 54 not out, while Rehan Ahmed took 3-134, but the chances of a positive result were effectively neutered on day three, when a mere 9.5 overs were bowled.

Leicestershire remain top of the table, while Kent stay bottom.

Conditions were significantly better on Friday but as soon as Kent passed the follow on target of 321 a draw seemed inevitable.

The nightwatchman, George Garrett, survived 67 balls spread across days two, three and four but he was the first man out when he edged Logan van Beek to Louis Kimber for 10.

The first shot of Ben Dawkins’ first-class career was a stylish drive that might have gone for four but for the slope, but he was out for seven, inside-edging Ben Green behind.

Compton, 111 not out overnight, reached 150 in the penultimate over of the session when he cut Tom Scriven for four and Kent eased to 307-4 at lunch.

Scriven subsequently had Joey Evison caught behind for 38, but an elegant sweep off Rehan saw Compton to 200. He took a single off Patel to pass his previous highest score of 217 and was finally out when he came down the wicket to Rehan and was stumped.

Rehan then had Matt Parkinson lbw for two and Kent were 429-8 at tea, after which Finch cover-drove Rishi Patel to bring up his half-century, but play was suspended at 16:40 BST and both sides looked as eager as the umpires to shake hands on the draw.

ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.