Daniel Bell-Drummond hit his second fifty in consecutive Championship games on a tight day’s cricket between Kent and Leicestershire.

A declaration from Kent, despite still being 64 runs behind the visitors on first innings, attempted to set the game up, having lost the entirety of the first day to rain. Doug Bollinger did take two wickets in as many balls, but a draw remains the most likely result come the end of the final day tomorrow.

With the visitors tail-end having frustrated Kent last night, adding 135 for the last three wickets, the home side would have been pleased that Doug Bollinger was able to pick up the final pole in the first over of the third day – Jigar Naik caught by Sam Billings after tentatively fending at a shorter delivery outside off-stump. Leicestershire were 333 all out, failing to add to their overnight score but in a decent position considering they had been 198-7 at one point yesterday afternoon.

Sam Northeast and Rob Key started Kent’s reply without too many issues, seeing out the first 10 overs by playing sensibly against the straighter deliveries and punishing anything wide.

Both would become the architects of their own downfall, however, dismissed within four overs of each other, both to shots they would later regret. First, Northeast clipped Ben Raine’s second delivery of the day straight to Ned Eckersley at cover for 18, before Key, on 27 from just 28 balls, top-edged an attempted pull off the bowling of Anthony Ireland; wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien running round towards square leg to take the catch, leaving Kent 45-2.

Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendan Nash came together following the opening pair’s departure, and were able to steer the home side to lunch, having put on 35 together and taken Kent’s total to 80-2.

The pair continued to build the score for the first hour or so of the afternoon session, and both looked to be settled, before Nash, on 45, was trapped lbw by left-arm seamer Rob Taylor, ending his 98-ball stay at the crease.

In Taylor’s next over, Bell-Drummond brought up his fifty – his second in consecutive County Championship matches, having made consecutive centuries in pre-season. The 20-year-old would go on to make 58 before he gloved an Ireland delivery to Jigar Naik in the slips; Kent’s fourth wicket falling with the score on 164.

Ben Harmison and Darren Stevens saw their side through to tea, and had put on 30 together before Harmison (21) was lbw to Taylor in the second over after tea; his dismissal similar to that of his teammate Nash earlier in the day; hit on  the pads whilst trying to play across the line.

Stevens was now joined at the crease by Billings, and the pair put on a sprightly partnership of 54 together. Stevens in particular found the boundary at regular intervals, but was caught at long on for 48 when trying to reach his half-century, his knock featuring eight fours, one six, and coming from just 61 balls.

As Claydon joined Billings in the middle, the pair looked to keep the run rate up, pushing for quick runs before a declaration was made. Billings hit Ben Raine for two sixes in an over, before being bowled by Shreck for 38, at which point Kent declared. Their innings closed on 269-7, leaving them 64 runs behind on first innings.

With eight overs left in the day, Kent would have been hopeful on picking up a wicket or two before the close, and Bollinger duly obliged. A quick, full delivery in the fifth over saw Matthew Boyce’s off-stump sent cartwheeling for 8, before Anthony Ireland, who made 52 in the first knock and came to the middle as a nightwatchman, was trapped lbw first ball, leaving Leicestershire 19-2.

Greg Smith and Ned Eckersley were able to see out the remaining overs, closing the day on 103 runs ahead on 39-2.

The draw still looks most likely result with just the one day remaining, but Kent will be looking for early wickets come the morning nonetheless.

 

Stumps, day three: Kent vs. Leicestershire, LV= County Championship Division Two, The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, 20-23 April 2014:

Kent 269-7 declared (Bell-Drummond 58, Taylor 2-40, Ireland 2-47) trail Leicestershire 333 (Boyce 68, Ireland 52, Stevens 3-46, Riley 3-52) and 39-2 (Bollinger 2-19) by 103 runs

 

Kent: Northeast, Key*, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Harmison, Stevens, Billings†, Claydon, Joseph, Bollinger, Riley

Leicestershire: Smith, Boyce, Eckersley, Robson, Cobb*, O’Brien†, Raine, Taylor, Naik, Ireland, Shreck

 

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl.

Bonus points: Kent 5, Leicestershire 5

 

Full scorecard available here

 

Top picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com.