Wily Nottinghamshire veterans Chris Nash and Samit Patel dug in throughout much of the late afternoon gloom in Tunbridge Wells to edge their side into the solid position of 208 for four at the mid-point of their Specsavers County Championship match with Kent.

Ollie Rayner is hoping that his decision to join Kent on long-term loan will spark the start to the latest chapter of a county career that already spans 14 seasons.