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County Championship: Joe Denly hits century as Kent shake on draw at Hampshire

Joe Denly struck 154 as Kent settled for a draw in their Specsavers County Championship match with Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.

Having been set 153 to win with 17 overs remaining in the final session on day four, Kent shook hands on a draw after eight overs as they picked up a valuable 12 points.

Darren Stevens had taken his second five-fer in as many games earlier in the week, with Heino Kuhn and Daniel Bell-Drummond both reaching the 90s with the bat.

Joe Denly bats against Warwickshire. Picture: Ady Kerry
Joe Denly bats against Warwickshire. Picture: Ady Kerry

Hampshire ended day one on 340-6 after Kent picked up key wickets in the evening with the second new ball.

After electing to bat, Hampshire were boosted by a 92-run opening wicket partnership from Felix Organ and Ian Holland before the latter edged Harry Podmore to Sean Dickson for 60.

Bell-Drummond later pulled off a superb catch to send Ajinkya Rahane on his way for just one.

Rossouw added 92 until he was caught at slip by Dickson, with three wickets falling for 22 runs in five overs.

Organ eventually worked his way to 100 in 234 balls, only to edge behind on the next delivery, which was followed by the dismissal of Gareth Berg two balls later to hand Stevens two wickets in an over.

Aneurin Donald contributed 40 but was caught by Denly as Hampshire finished on 340-6.

Resuming on day two, Hampshire managed 69 runs in 19 overs before they declared on 409-9, with Stevens boasting figures of 5-68.

Kent's Darren Stevens. Picture: Ady Kerry
Kent's Darren Stevens. Picture: Ady Kerry

While the likes of Sam Northeast, Dominic Sibley and Zak Crawley featured for the England Lions, Denly hit his second County Championship hundred of the season.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a 206-run partnership with Bell-Drummond, who produced 94 of his own to continue his good form.

Denly, who passed 11,500 first-class runs in the innings, reached 138 at stumps alongside Kuhn's 28 as Kent closed on 319-3, which had included 27 from 18-year-old Jordan Cox on his debut.

Day three saw Denly reach 154 before he was beaten lbw by Keith Barker.

Fidel Edwards (5-118) then dismissed Ollie Robinson (29) and Stewart for a duck, but Kent recovered through Kuhn (95) and Stevens (60) to gain a lead of 146 as they were bowled out for 555.

Interim captain Kuhn had been denied his first championship century of the season when he was bowled by Edwards.

Upon returning to the crease, Hampshire saw Rahane bowled by Stewart for 42, after which Holland and Rossouw led them to 119-2 and trailing by 27 heading into the final day.

Holland and Rossouw picked up where they left off as they added 65 to their team's overnight score.

Denly's decision to bring himself into the attack then proved an inspired one, with Rossouw pulling his shot into the hands of Bell-Drummond to depart on 66.

Spin became key heading into lunch as Ollie Rayner forced a touch from Holland to Robinson behind the stumps, before Denly struck again to trap Berg lbw and leave Hampshire on 196-5 at the interval.

Stevens produced with the ball again after the restart to dismiss Lewis McManus for 10 thanks to a catch from Dickson at slip.

Kent then lost Kuhn as the South African left the field to be replaced by Alex Blake due to concussion.

Hampshire clawed their way towards a draw courtesy of a patient 63-run partnership from Donald (43) and Barker (37 not out).

After the former was caught by Bell-Drummond off Matt Milnes, Hampshire made it to 298 all out with a lead of 152 after Denly had racked up 3-48.

With 17 overs left to play, Kent lost Sean Dickson for just four followed by Alex Blake, filling in for Kuhn, who was caught by McManus off Edwards for 15.

Denly hit an unbeaten 29 from 22 balls until both sides decided to shake hands on a draw with Kent on 57-3 after 8.2 overs.

Read more: All the latest Kent sport news

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