Rob Key’s unbeaten century ensured Kent’s opening County Championship game of the season at Grace Road ended in a draw.

With Leicestershire holding the upper hand after the third day, resuming on 452 for 7, a lead of 46 runs over Kent, the visitors took little time to bowl the home side out for 495.

Having decided to bat on rather than declare themselves, Leicestershire lost Shiv Thakor for 114 when he skied the ball to Brendan Nash at deep midwicket off Mark Davies bowling.

Robbie Williams was bowled by Charlie Shreck for just two and the innings was wrapped up when Shreck had Matthew Hoggard caught by Key for just four leaving Ollie Freckingham stranded on 24 not out.

With Hoggard unable to bowl after sustaining a hip injury early in the first innings, Kent comfortably saw themselves to lunch without alarm with Key and Sam Northeast quick to punish Freckingham and Williams.

Northeast was to nick Thakor behind to Niall O’Brien when on 32, shortly after Key had chalked up his fifty with Brendan Nash quick to get the scoring rate going.

He and Key were to put on 124 for the second wicket with the West Indian falling shortly before the former skipper brought up his ton.

Nash was to fall on 62 before edging Jigar Naik to slip, but Key was to carry on and his 11th boundary of his innings saw his bring up his ton off 194 balls shortly before the two sides shook hands on the draw.

Kent will return home for a few days before heading back out on the road next week for a trip to Old Trafford to take on Lancashire beginning on Wednesday.
LV= County Championship match, Grace Road:

 

Leicestershire: Thornely, O’Brien (WK), Eckersley, Sarwan (C), Cobb, Boyce, Thakor, Naik, Freckingham, Hoggard, Williams.

Kent: Northeast, Key, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones (WK), Tredwell (C), Coles, Haggett, Davies, Shreck.

Result: Kent 406 all out (Jones 67, Coles 59, Nash 50; Naik 4-97) & 213 for 2dec (Key 104 not out, Nash 62), Leicestershire 495 all out (Boyce 135, Thakor 114; Haggett 3-79).