Less than nine overs were bowled on the third day of Kent’s County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Canterbury.

Rain was the order of the day, as play in the match continued for only about 40 minutes in a period before lunch, although Kent did lose three wickets in that time, as well as picking up their seventh bonus point of the match, reaching 350-9 when the umpires took the players off.

With play not beginning until 12 noon as groundsmen attempted to salvage a pitch left damp by overnight rain, yesterday’s unbeaten centurion Brendan Nash and James Tredwell made their way to the crease with the score on 316-6.

Tredwell was the first wicket of the day to fall, caught by Phil Jaques at second slip off the bowling of Tim Bresnan.

Matt Coles, who was yesterday called up by the England Lions, was the new batsman, but he was removed first ball by Bresnan, edging behind to keeper Jonny Bairstow, leaving Kent 333-8.

Mark Davies made his way to the crease and was able to see off the hat-trick ball, but was on his way back to the pavilion in the next over after being bowled by Adil Rashid for a duck.

As last-man-in Charlie Shreck came to the crease, Kent were still 16 runs from their target of 350 needed for the next bonus point. The former Notts seamer and Nash were able to steer them there, reaching it and then leaving the field for rain immediately afterwards.

Play was called off for the day shortly after 3.30pm, leaving Kent 350-9 overnight, in reply to Yorkshire’s 247, with just one day to play and a grim weather forecast meaning the match looks to be heading for an almost certain draw.

Kent side: Newman, Northeast, Harmison, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Shreck.

Yorkshire side: Root, Sayers, Jaques, Gale, Bairstow, Ballance, Bresnan, Rashid, Shahzad, Sidebottom, Patterson.

Close of play on Day 3: Kent 350-9 (Nash 132*, Jones 47, Bresnan 3-89) in reply to Yorkshire 247 all out (Ballance 38, Bresnan 33, Coles 4-70, Stevens 2-39) – Kent lead by 103 runs.