Kent draw against Hampshire at Tunbridge Wells
Saturday 9th June 2012
Kent have drawn with Hampshire in their rain affected LV= County Championship match at The Nevill, after falling 84 runs short on the final day. Kent bank five points and Hampshire six.
At the start of the final day Hampshire batted on for another 90 minutes, adding 74 to their overnight total. Liam Dawson had reached an unbeaten 134 when his side notched 300 for a third batting bonus point before declaring.
Having agreed a run-chase deal, the captains duly endorsed a brace of declarationswhich left Kent with a minimum of 70 overs to reach 304 for their win.
Having watched rain falling, then umpires inspecting sodden conditions for the best part of three days,the final day crowds at Tunbridge Wellsenjoyed sunshine as well as some entertaining cricket.
Hampshire declared half an hour before lunch on 303 for eight – immediately after posting their third batting bonus point – and challenged Kent to an afternoon pursuit at the rate of 4.34 an over.
Kentset off in sprightly fashion through Rob Key and Sam Northeast, who added 37 through to the interval, but struggled to maintain momentum thereafter.
With the asking rate mounting and with 75 on the board, Key went leg before for 35. Pushing well forward to Kabir Ali, the ball brushed pad before bat.
Ben Harmison was 32 balls for 11 runs, when in a moment of self-sacrifice, he clipped one from Dimitri Mascarenhas straight to mid-wicket to make it 99 for two.
Kent promoted Darren Stevens in a bid to add impetus, but his stay for 28 ended with a sliced drive against the wily Mascarenhas that picked out the fielder at deep cover.
Recalled opening batsman Northeast kept the board ticking with a 94-ball fifty, but with his score on 79, the former Harrow School right-hander drove on the up againstDavid Balcombe and saw Jimmy Adams dive to his left and claim an athletic catch at mid-wicket.
Brendan Nash, the former West Indies batsman, played some delightful strokes on his way to 18 but, with Kent requiring a further 125 going into the final 16, perished when attempting to manufacture a shot. Backing away to cut Kabir Ali, he saw Carberry gather an excellent low catch.
Carberry starred again by taking another stunning catch, this time diving fully to his right at cover, to account for Matt Coles for 18.
Michael Powell joined forces with Geraint Jones thereafter and both reined in the big strokes to ensure Kent a draw. The sides ultimately shook hand at 18:00 with Kent on 220 for six.
Photo: Sarah Ansell SarahCanterbury.com