Somerset 380 and 387 for 7 dec drew with Kent 372
Scorecard

Somerset's bid to land their first County Championship title suffered a potentially fatal blow when they inexplicably batted throughout the final day at Canterbury. Against part-time bowling and an attacking field, Somerset refused to set the hosts a target and churned on to reach a second innings total of 387 for 7 to ensure a stalemate when the teams shook hands on a draw.

Visiting captain Marcus Trescothick endured verbal abuse from a sparse crowd for batting through the final day and collecting 10 points for the draw. The former England left-hander ended unbeaten on 188 after seven and a half hours at the crease, his best championship score since 2007.

Somerset started the day on 138 for 3, an overall lead of 146, but any hopes of a run chase or a positive result were effectively over by lunch. Kent struck in the third over of the day when James Tredwell plucked out the off stump of James Hildreth (32) as he attempted to sweep.

Trescothick scored his second hundred of the summer with only nine fours and from 251 balls as he and Craig Kieswetter posted 100 for the fifth wicket. Kieswetter then chipped back a chest-high catch to Tredwell to give the offspinner final figures of 5 for 95, yet it proved the last meaningful action of the game.

Home skipper Rob Key made his views clear on the situation when he brought himself on to bowl to take the wickets of Peter Trego (37) and Ben Phillips (14) as Kent ended the game with Joe Denly keeping wicket and Geraint Jones bowling.