Titchard's work goes to waste

The Derbyshire openers, Steve Titchard and Steve Stubbings, put on a record partnership against Kent at Canterbury yesterday, but it was to prove all in vain.

The Derbyshire openers, Steve Titchard and Steve Stubbings, put on a record partnership against Kent at Canterbury yesterday, but it was to prove all in vain.

The game was eventually abandoned as a draw and both teams earned nine points, leaving Kent sixth, while Derbyshire moved into eighth spot ahead of the opponents they meet tomorrow, Hampshire.

The visitors finished on 293 for 0, giving them an overall lead of 321 when play ended at 5.20pm. Titchard scored an unbeaten 141 - his highest score for Derbyshire since switching from Lancashire last year - while Stubbings was just behind on 135 for his first hundred for the county.

The 293 partnership was the second-highest stand in Derbyshire's history as well as the highest-scoring partnership in the history of Kent-Derbyshire matches.

With the game always appearing likely to end in a stalemate, David Fulton was given a rare chance to bowl and he conceded 45 runs off 17 overs, while fellow occasional bowlers Ed Smith and Robert Key were also given chances.

Titchard had to work hard for his hundred which came in 219 balls and included nine fours and a six, while Stubbings scored his off 249 balls, reaching it just before tea as Derbyshire moved to 225.

Kent rested Rahul Dravid and Min Patel after tea, sending on the substitute Ben Trott and the physiotherapist, Martin Sigley, as the draw loomed. It was unfortunate that the game had already been rendered meaningless on what turned out to be a fine, sunny day.

Meanwhile, Kent have announced that the county's former captain, Lord Colin Cowdrey, suffered a stroke at his home at Arundel yesterday.

He is undergoing tests in hospital and his condition is described as "quite comfortable". Lord Cowdrey, 67, is Kent's president and was at the ground last Friday and Saturday.