Daniel Bell-Drummond hit his second century in two pre-season innings, as Kent’s match with Loughborough MCCU unsurprisingly ended in a draw.

There were also half-centuries for Brendan Nash and Ben Harmison, as Kent’s batsmen took the opportunity to get some time in the middle with a result never likely after the first day was completely washed out by rain.

Resuming on 33-1, Sam Northeast and Bell-Drummond made added another 65 for the second wicket, before the Kent vice-captain was bowled by Sam Grant for 33.

That brought Brendan Nash to the crease, with whom Bell-Drummond had been playing and working in Australia in the off-season.

The pair saw Kent through to lunch with the score on 150-2, and 20-year-old Bell-Drummond brought up his second First Class century in the afternoon session – his excellent knock coming from 168 balls, and featuring 14 boundaries, including one six.

Having reached his high score of 103, Bell-Drummond retired out, giving the rest of the batting order the opportunity to spend some time at the crease, and they certainly made the most of it.

Nash was the first to go to his fifty, bringing up the milestone from 117 balls. Nash enjoyed another productive season with Kent in 2013, averaging 48.36 in First Class cricket. The 36-year-old former West Indian international will be hoping that today’s knock will stand him in good stead come Kent’s first County Championship game of the season away at Worcestershire, starting on Sunday.

Nash accelerated his scoring rate after making his half-century, but was eventually dismissed for 87 when he was bowled by Will MacVicar, bringing Darren Stevens to the crease.

After Stevens and Harmison had seen Kent through to tea on 278-4, the pair once again put their foot on the accelerator, with Stevens unsurprisingly leading the charge after the break.

Harmison would bring up his half-century from 103 balls, with seven fours, before Stevens was dismissed for 45 from just 39 deliveries next ball.

With that, Kent declared their innings and called it a day shortly before 5pm, with the match of course ending as a draw.

The Kent side and management will be pleased to have seen a number of their batsman spend plenty of time at the crease before their Championship season kicks off on Sunday, when they will be hoping for a positive result to get their season started on the right foot.

Stumps, day three: Kent vs. Loughborough MCCU, University match, The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, 7-9 April 2014:

Kent 339-5 declared (Bell-Drummond 103, Nash 87, Harmison 51 n.o.) drew with Loughborough MCCU 271 (MacVicar 79, Endersby 53; Claydon 4-50, Ball 2-29).

 

Kent: Key*, Northeast, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Harmison, Stevens, Billings†, Ball, Claydon, Joseph, Griffiths.

Loughborough MCCU: Patel, Best, Sterland, Endersby, MacVicar, Baker, Burgess†, Riley*, Soileux, Grant, Lester.

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl.

RESULT: MATCH DRAWN

 

 

Pictures supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com.