A tenacious Adam Rossington eventually got Northamptonshire to safety with an unbeaten 59, but only after a brave explanation from the home side with a night result of 335 for 5 when they had 62 runs left
Canterbury (fourth day of four): Kent 392 & 184-8d v Northamptonshire 330-5d
Scorecard
Kent drew the LV = Insurance County Championship match against Northamptonshire despite an exciting final day in Canterbury.
A tenacious Adam Rossington eventually got the guests to safety with an unbeaten 59, but only after a brave explanation from the home side on their night’s stand of 335 for 5 when they had 62 runs left.
Nathan Gilchrist took 3 for 57 and Darren Stevens 2 for 42 when the hosts saw an unlikely Group 3 win only to lose the game in the final session, Northamptonshire finishing 184 for 8.
With the guests reluctant to risk the eight points for the tie by devising a finish, Kent opted for an early declaration in hopes of claiming their first win of the season and were rewarded with four wickets that morning.
Darren Stevens scored in the second over, removing Emilio Gay lbw for eight and then leaving Ricardo Vasconcelos for nine. After three games without a wicket, on the last day of his tenure at Kent, Miguel Cummins finally looked like the bowler they thought they’d get when they signed him and a serious threat saw Rob Keogh embarrass him for 12 behind.
Jordan Cox then made a sharp catch on Gilchrist’s first slip to remove Gareth Berg for 21 while Northants fell short of 70 for 4 at lunch.
The afternoon session was intriguingly balanced: every time Northants seemed safe, Kent picked up a wicket. Gilchrist struck again in his first over, bringing Saif Zaib back for six, but Cummings was denied a second wicket when Luke Procter, hitting despite an injury, put him on the third slip where he was knocked down by Marcus O’Riordan .
After hanging up with Rossington 50, Procter was brilliantly driven out by Daniel Bell-Drummond at 17 after being sent back by his captain for attempting a single.
Cox took another excellent slip catch from Gilchrist to fire Tom Taylor for 12, and when Nathan Buck Joe Denly was for 6 lbw, the lead was a gettable 212, with 45 overs remaining.
However, the guests had increased to 156 for 8 at tea and the only chance for a mild evening session came when Simon Kerrigan was dropped on short leg by Tawanda Muyeye in front of Denly. The captains shook hands at the 4:50 p.m. draw, Kent taking 14 points and Northamptonshire 13.
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