Kent’s County Championship game at Derbyshire ended in an expected draw, despite an enterprising declaration by the visiting skipper Rob Key.

After rain had wiped out the entirety of the first and third days, as well as around half of the second, it was acknowledged by all that the draw was the most likely result going into the fourth and final day.

Despite some aggressive batting from Kent, including an unbeaten 95 from just 98 balls for Brendan Nash, who passed the landmark of 7,000 First Class runs in the process, Key’s declaration was in vain. The home side’s openers Stephen Moore and Paul Borrington were able to see out the rest of the overs bowled without trouble, before stumps were drawn by the umpires at 5pm.

In the single window of play that had been available in the three days of the game so far, Kent had dismissed the home side for just 118, as Darren Stevens (5-24) and Doug Bollinger (5-29) both took five-fors.

Openers Sam Northeast and Key had then seen out the final three overs to leave Kent 10-0, where they resumed from on the morning of the final day.

Neither man was able to make a particularly telling contribution to the side’s total, as first Key (8) fell to Palladino, before Northeast (12) was removed by Footitt, both caught behind by wicket-keeper Gareth Cross.

Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendan Nash put on a sprightly 50 together, scoring at a rate of more than six-an-over, before Bell-Drummond was bowled for 24 leaving a Tim Groenewald delivery.

Nash was joined by Ben Harmison to see the side through to tea, by which stage the former West Indian international had already brought up a 55-ball half-century with a big six of slow left-armer David Wainwright.

By the interval, Kent had already taken the lead; going in at 135-3 – 17 runs ahead.

Harmison (27) was back in the pavilion shortly after the break, well caught by Tony Palladino off the bowling of Groenewald, bringing Darren Stevens to the crease.

The all-rounder played a typically positive knock, finding the boundary at regular intervals as he made 33 from only 27 balls, including 4 fours and a six, before being caught at third man off Footitt.

Sam Billings came in and made 14 before top-edging an Alex Hughes delivery to Cross, at which stage Key decided to make his declaration with his side 117 runs ahead.

Nash had passed the 7,000 First Class runs landmark upon reaching 90, and some were a little surprised to see Key make the call with Nash just five runs off what would have been a second century in as many games. However, the captain had seemed to signal to ask Nash if he wanted to stay on, to which the 36-year-old declined as Kent looked to give their bowlers the best opportunity of forcing the victory.

Kent also may have considered staying out and reaching 250, which would have seen them pick up a batting point, but Key clearly wanted to give his side as much time as possible with the ball.

It is another sign of the “positive brand of cricket” that Kent are keen to play under Head Coach Jimmy Adams and captain Rob Key this season; an aggressive declaration also having been made in Kent’s other rain-affected game this season, at home to Leicestershire.

With a maximum of 49 overs left in the day to bowl at the home side, Kent knew that early wickets would be the key to them having any chance of sneaking an improbable victory.

As it was, home side openers Stephen Moore (73 not out) and Paul Borrington (31 not out) were able to see their side through without loss, first to tea, and then for another hour afterwards.

They had reached 106-0 at that stage, still trailing by 13 runs, when the umpires called it a day as they drew stumps and the players shook hands.

Kent take nine points from the game: five for the draw, plus three bowling points and one batting point. Derbyshire, meanwhile, take seven: two bowling points to add to their five for the draw.

Kent’s next fixture sees them take on World T20 Champions Sri Lanka at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Friday, while their next Championship encounter takes them to Bristol to face Gloucestershire, starting this Sunday (18 May 2014).

Close of play, day four:

Derbyshire vs. Kent, LV= County Championship Division Two, The 3aaa County Ground, Derby, 11-14 May 2014:

Derbyshire 106-0 (Moore 73 not out, Borrington 31 not out) and 118 all out (Stevens 5-24, Bollinger 5-29) drew with Kent 235-6d (Nash 95 not out)

Derbyshire: Moore, Borrington, Madsen*, Chanderpaul, Elstone, Hughes, Cross†, Wainwright, Palladino, Groenewald, Footitt

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

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl.

Points: Derbyshire 7, Kent 9

Full scorecard available here