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Kent (291 & 393) force final day draw against Yorkshire (571) at Headingley in County Championship

Ollie Robinson and Grant Stewart combined to help Kent force an unlikely draw on the final day of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 clash at Yorkshire on Sunday.

The duo put on 166 in 30 overs to frustrate the home side, who were closing in on victory after taking four wickets by early afternoon at Headingley.

Ollie Robinson - made an unbeaten 85 for Kent at Yorkshire on day four. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Ollie Robinson - made an unbeaten 85 for Kent at Yorkshire on day four. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Robinson and Stewart looked to be guiding Kent to safety before a late batting collapse - as the visitors lost their final four wickets for just nine runs in less than half an hour - opened the door for Yorkshire.

But bad light meant a ball was never bowled in Yorkshire's second innings and their chase of 114 to win in 21 overs was over before it had started.

Yorkshire were hampered by the loss of Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was unable to bowl in the second innings with a side issue.

Yorkshire’s first breakthrough came via Steven Patterson, who removed opposing captain Jack Leaning - his former team-mate and close friend - for 36. When Leaning under-edged behind attempting to leave alone in the day’s sixth over, Kent were 126-3 with a deficit of 154.

Jordan Cox went for 21, bowled by Jordan Thompson to a ball that jagged back.

Then opener Ben Compton (93) departed, having been dropped by Adam Lyth at slip on 71, the same player held on at second slip to give George Hill a wicket.

Hill trapped left-hander George Linde lbw for 16 and Stewart came to the crease with Kent 218-6. Having picked up a hamstring injury on day three, Stewart had a runner in the shape of Margate-born Cox.

Stewart and Robinson dug in initially before the former opened his shoulders. His 58-ball fifty was almost twice as quick as Robinson's half-century.

Kent reached tea at 312-6, leading by 32 with 35 overs remaining in the game. And they all but doubled the lead in the first two overs of the evening, including Stewart hitting two sixes to take the lion’s share of 20 from a Thompson over.

More runs were to follow, with Stewart’s 91-ball innings featuring four sixes, all either slog swept or pulled.

But he was run out by Thompson clipping to mid-on before Patterson trapped Matt Milnes lbw for one.

Nathan Gilchrist equalled the record for most consecutive first-class ducks when Patterson had him caught at mid-off by Matthew Revis. It was his sixth straight duck, a third pair in as many games with three of those dismissals golden ducks.

Last-man Matt Quinn lasted just five deliveries before he went in similar fashion at mid-off for four.

It represented a return to form for the stranded Robinson who, having made just 66 runs in his first five knocks of the summer, followed up his first-innings 58 with an unbeaten 85.

Robinson said: "It was a bit of frustration that, having wrestled the game back into our hands, we gave it away a little bit.

“It’s kind of been the story of our season so far and has put a bit of a sour note on it. But I guess you can’t be too disappointed to come away with 11 points after them scoring the best part of 600.

“It was just a case of digging deep (during the partnership with Stewart). I haven’t had a great start to the year, so for me it was just about batting time and finding a way.

“I really benefited from that and have come away with some confidence.

“It’s always fun to bat with someone like that, and Grant just did what Grant does. As soon as Grant starts to get a bit (defensive) at balls, he starts to get into a bit of trouble. The way he plays is looking to be positive - almost fighting fire with fire.”

The draw, called just before 5.45pm, meant Kent avoided a third straight defeat and they return from Headingley with 11 points. They sit bottom of Division 1 after four games.

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