Kent rally to no avail

Both teams fail to claim extra point

Last updated: 7th September 2008

Kent rally to no avail

Key: Attacked

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LV County Championship - Division One
Canterbury
Surrey 307-9 dec (M R Ramprakash 127, U Afzaal 67) v Kent 160-1 (J L Denly 80, R W T Key 76 no)
Kent (7pts) drew with Surrey (7pts)

Joe Denly and Rob Key added some late sparkle to proceedings but fell short of giving Kent an extra bonus point at Canterbury.

In a match ruined by the weather, the hosts went after an unlikely 200 in 34 for an extra point to fuel their title charge, but came up short when bad light returned to wipe out the last 12 overs.

Denly (80) and Key (76 not out) put on 159 for the opening stand in just 21 overs, profiting from an attacking field as Surrey went in pursuit of the three wickets they required for another point.

But the visitors now look odds-on favourites to be relegated, being 18 points adrift at the bottom with two matches remaining.

Surrey had resumed on 220 for five and Usman Afzaal (67) and Matthew Spriegel extended their stand to 76 before the former edged one from Ryan McLaren high to Martin Van Jaarsveld at second slip.

Spriegel remained in his shell for much of his 135-ball knock, while at the other end Amjad Khan removed Alex Tudor and Jimmy Ormond in the same over.

Surrey limped past 300 and another batting point when Spriegel drove Khan over extra cover but he was left stranded on 42 when McLaren got one through Saqlain Mushtaq's defences.

Denly and Key then threw the bat on a good surface for batting despite all the rain, but it was ultimately for nothing.

Day Three

Mark Ramprakash notched his 103rd first-class century as Surrey reached 220-5 on the third day of their rain-hampered Division One fixture with Kent.

After just 13 balls were bowled during the opening two days, the weather improved enough for 70.4 overs to be possible on day three.

Ramprakash's 176-ball knock, featuring 12 fours and six sixes, ensured Surrey - who are in deep relegation trouble - picked up the first of the five available batting bonus points.

The right-hander, who turned 39 on Friday, shared half-century stands with Chris Murtagh (9), Jon Batty (13) and Usman Afzaal (31no) before becoming one of Kent seamer Yasir Arafat's (3-42) three victims.

The only prospect of a positive result on the final day, during which more poor weather is forecast, is if the captains contrive a run chase.

Day two

Just 13 balls were bowled before rain once again scuppered any chance of worthwhile action for the second successive day.

It is another crushing blow to Surrey's hopes of survival after all four days of their last championship game against Lancashire at Blackpool were washed out.

Day one

Both sides were frustrated in their quest for valuable points as play was abandoned for the day before tea.

Steady drizzle throughout the morning turned to heavier rain, leaving several puddles on the outfield.

Victory for Kent could see them move to the top of the table while struggling Surrey urgently need points from their three remaining games to avoid the drop.