A brilliant defensive performance earned Kent a draw with Hampshire after a thrilling final day at Canterbury.
It was classic full-back action by the hosts, who closed 259-4, having netted 113 overs before the captains shook hands, although Kent were still 19 points down.
Ben Compton and Zak Crawley laid down a top spot of 122 and although Hampshire’s hopes were ignited by a three-wicket spell for four runs, they were frustrated by Jack Leaning and Jordan Cox, whose unbeaten 77 spot a knocked out 43.2 overs.
Keith Barker and Liam Dawson took two wickets apiece but it was a maddening final day for the visitors.
The hosts will be much happier with the draw, having been knocked out for 95 in their first innings, before Hampshire posted 373 in response.
The visitors looked heavy favorites but Kent were 66-0 overnight after 26 overs of stoic Compton and a held-back Crawley.
Hitting conditions looked much easier in a Spitfire Ground that looked and felt hot for the first time this season, and both openers fought their way to 50, but after more than an hour of resistance, Dawson made the breakthrough with two wickets in an over.
Crawley was caught late for 56 and four deliveries later Tawanda Muyeye fell in love with a duck, held by Fletcha Middleton to a silly point.
When Barker subsequently had an lbw from Compton for 54, Kent was in shock at 126-3, but Leaning and Sam Billings survived until lunch and for nearly an hour after, before the latter was of lbw for 29 against Barker.
It was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session, with Kent reaching 202-4 at tea.
Cox played with admirable restraint and when Mohammad Abbas found his edge, he crossed the slip cord and his next delivery fell just short of the second slip. These were isolated alarms for the hosts.
Leaning reached 50 when he square-legged Barker for a single and an exhausted Hampshire team tried nine different bowlers before giving up the ghost with nine scheduled overs remaining.
Leaning ended on 68 out of 206 balls, with Cox undefeated on 30 of 130.
Report provided by the ECB Reporters Network.
