Nottinghamshire’s search for batting bonus points was interrupted by the weather on a shortened second day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

The visitors, responding to Kent’s all out total of 309, had reached 208 for four, when a fourth stoppage for rain ended play for the day.

Chris Nash made 67 and shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 90 with Samit Patel, who remains undefeated on 42.

Resuming from their overnight position of 30 without loss Ben Slater and Ben Duckett enjoyed a productive opening half an hour before being parted.

Duckett enjoyed cover drives against both Harry Podmore and Grant Stewart before being given out lbw for 33 in Matt Milnes’ second over.

Wiaan Mulder, Kent’s South African international, began with four consecutive maidens, once he’d replaced Podmore, and was rewarded for his nagging consistency with the second wicket of the day, as Slater nicked behind for 34.

Nash had compiled a watchful 22 and Joe Clarke was unbeaten on 6 when they left the field for lunch and then rain set in for the first time, delaying the start of the afternoon session by 35 minutes.

Kent soon had a third wicket and a bowling bonus point when play restarted. Milnes’ full-length delivery brushed the outside of Clarke’s bat and wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson dived low to his right for his second catch of the day.

Further rain arrived, restricting the afternoon session to just 11 overs and the covers were brought on and off at least three times before the conditions improved for another brief passage of play.

After tea Nash brought up his fifth championship 50 of the season from 94 balls, with 8 fours but his partner, Samit Patel, had a slice of luck, nicking a Mulder no-ball straight to Ollie Rayner at second slip, when on 4.

Nash and Patel brought up the 50 partnership as the latter drove Stewart straight down the ground.

Then Nash pulled the same bowler for a single but the huge throw-back from Daniel Bell-Drummond by-passed his team-mates and ran away for four overthrows.

Kent kept a tight grip on things, with Nash spending 40 minutes on 61, although runs kept coming at the other end and Patel’s 38th single brought up a first batting point.

Kent took the second new ball late in the day and were immediately rewarded, in slightly curious circumstances.

A white towel fell from Podmore’s pocket as he delivered the ball to Nash, who nicked behind, and immediately pointed, as though distracted.

The dismissal stood – and to compound matters – only one more delivery was bowled before play was curtailed for the day.

Assuming conditions improve, Notts will resume on the third morning 101 runs behind.

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A Notts Outlaws squad brimming with international talent will commence their T20 Vitality Blast campaign against Worcestershire Rapids at Trent Bridge on Thursday 18 July, with adult tickets priced at £10. Secure your seats…