Blake hits half-century in draw

Gloucestershire's weather-affected Championship Division Two game against Kent at Bristol petered out into a draw, despite finishing in blazing sunshine.

The visitors finished the fourth day on 300 for 9 declared before the hosts opted to declare their own first innings with just one run on the board. It was an unsatisfactory conclusion for both sides, who finished with six points each.

With almost three days of the game washed-out by downpours, Kent resumed their first innings on 29 for 1 from the 11.2 overs that had been possible on the second morning. The visitors soon lost Sam Northeast, who had added only one run to his overnight total when he departed for 13, snapped up by Rob Nicol's brilliant slip catch off left-armer David Payne.

New batsman Brendan Nash survived a confident appeal for a catch behind from the first delivery he faced, but went on to share a partnership of 95 for the third wicket with Alex Blake. Nash was four runs short of his half-century when he edged a ball from Liam Norwell to slip, this time presenting Nicol with a straightforward chance to pouch his second catch of the morning.

Soon after lunch Kent lost Mike Powell, when Norwell clipped the top of his off stump, and Blake then perished for 73 as he attempted to crash a delivery from Will Gidman through the off side but edged to wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty.

Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones pushed Kent past 200 to collect their first bonus point, but Gloucestershire bagged their second when Stevens became the sixth wicket to fall, caught on the boundary by James Fuller off Nicol's bowling for 45.

Simon Cook edged to Ian Cockbain at second slip for 15 to give Gidman his second scalp, and he quickly picked up a third when Mark Davies also edged to slip, but former England keeper Jones made an unbeaten 65 to help steer Kent to their third bonus point.