GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S rain ruined four-day clash with LV County Championship Division Two rivals Kent ended in a predictable draw as they saw out the final session at Canterbury yesterday.

Gloucestershire batted first in the match and Kent must have been thinking of an easy victory as wickets tumbled for few runs.

At one stage, the visitors were 14-4 as opener Cameron Bancroft departed for just seven, having spent nearly a hour collecting those runs. Opening partner Chris Dent was trapped lbw for one after 12 balls, while Ian Cockbain and skipper Gareth Roderick departed after adding just one run to the total.

But the middle order recovered the damage, with Hamish Marshall smashing 112, while Jack Taylor (52) and David Payne (46) added further runs to the 337 all out total.

Kent overtook Gloucestershire’s total, thanks to 189 from Sam Northeast, 90 by Tom Latham and a half-century contribution from Darren Stevens lower down the order.

Gloucestershire’s bowlers shared the wickets around with Payne taking two wickets, with five maidens in his thirty overs, for 76 runs.

Craig Miles, with two for 146 from 31 overs, and Josh Shaw (2-84), grabbed other Kent wickets with one apiece for Jack Taylor and Kieran Noema-Barnett.

But the rain interruptions, which cost 33 overs on the final morning and early afternoon, put paid to a positive result coming from the game as Gloucestershire batted for a second time.

Kent picked up three wickets after play finally started at 1.45pm. Bancroft (18) and Dent (27) were both caught. Then Callum Haggett struck again to snare Roderick (11) lbw.

Marshall was caught for twenty and, when other wickets tumbled, with Gloucestershire just about managing to get a lead, Kent had a chance to snatch the win.

But a stubborn 46 from Jack Taylor and 20 from pace bowler David Payne saved the day for Gloucestershire as the match ended with them on 211-8 after fifty overs.