County Championship: Kent hang on for thrilling draw with Northants

Kent clung on to deny Northamptonshire a sensational, record-breaking win in the County Championship, closing on 160-8 after a stomach-churningly tense final hour.

A hitherto sterile contest finally ignited on the final day as Yuzvendra Chahal and Calvin Harrison nearly spun the visitors to an improbable victory using the much-maligned Kookaburra ball.

Northants defied the elements, batted aggressively and declared on 722-6, smashing the record for the highest score by any side at this venue, eclipsing the 676 made by Australia in 1921.

Saif Zaib made 196 not out and Justin Broad was unbeaten on 157, an unbroken partnership of 298. It also meant they led by 156, giving Kent a minimum of 59 overs to navigate, 11 of which were lost due to rain.

Chahal took 4-51 and for the second consecutive week it was left to Joey Evison to stave off defeat.

He hit 49 from 104 balls and was helped by a dramatic late return from Tawanda Muyeye, who left the ground at lunchtime for personal reasons, but returned to bat at number 10 and was there with Evison at the end.

Northants resumed with Zaib on 150 and Broad 107, but just 12 minutes were possible before the rain became too heavy for the players to continue.

Eighteen overs were lost and when play resumed, Zaib and Broad tried to make up for the lost time.

The rain returned and with Northamptonshire on 722-6 lunch was taken early, but this time only one over was lost and Kent faced a potentially awkward afternoon, under leaden skies.

It looked even more awkward when Liam Guthrie sent Jaydn Denly’s off stump cartwheeling, four balls into the reply, but after four overs the rain returned with Kent on 12-1 and 11 further overs were chalked off.

Chahal then bowled Ekansh Singh for 27, but despite a succession of appeals of varying conviction, Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond steered Kent to the relative safety of 76-2 at tea.

However, they then fell apart, Bell-Drummond edging the first ball of the evening session, from Harrison, to Broad at first slip and Compton then went trying to sweep Chahal, victim of a low catch at square leg by Tim Robinson.

Harry Finch cut Harrison straight to Broad for four and Matt Parkinson strolled out with Kent still 61 in arrears.

Chahal then took two wickets in two balls: Parkinson survived 12 deliveries until Broad took his third catch of the innings, and Wes Agar went for a heave and was out for a golden duck, caught behind by Lewis McManus.

Matt Quinn played more sensibly until he lofted the 57th ball he faced from Harrison to Chahal for 13.

To widespread surprise Muyeye then came out and Kent had a major let off when Evison was dropped by Ricardo Vasconcelos at silly point.

The duo crucially steered Kent into the lead and when 5.50pm was reached, they were officially safe.

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