County and Kent share spoils

Leicestershire versus Kent, Specsavers County Championship, Day 4:

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE 

INTERVIEW | Captain Mark Cosgrove spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps, the interview is available HERE

HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the final day are available HERE

RESULT | Match drawn, Leicestershire 13 points, Kent 13 points

REPORT | The Specsavers County Championship match between Leicestershire and Kent petered out into a draw at the Fischer County Ground.

Batsmen continued to dominate as Leicestershire's first innings 420 was surpassed by Kent, who posted 462-9 declared.

Overnight batsmen Darren Stevens (100) and Adam Rouse (60) extended their partnership to 152, a record for Kent’s sixth wicket against Leicestershire as the visitors moved towards a position of security.

James Tredwell (55) and Matt Coles (56*) added half-centuries while Dieter Klein finished with 4-108, Tom Wells took 2-98, and Callum Parkinson claimed his maiden first-class wicket for the club.

County moved to 61-2 in their second innings, Paul Horton top-scoring with 40 as the sides ended with 13 points apiece.

Kent began the day still needing 78 runs to avoid the follow-on, and though Rouse did enjoy one moment of good fortune when he edged left-arm fast bowler Klein just past his leg-stump when on 16, it was a rare moment of alarm.

Rouse gained confidence as the morning progressed with one particularly pleasant cover drive off the bowling of Klein. 

After 12 overs of the morning Parkinson was introduced into the attack and Rouse hit his first ball over mid-off for six to take Kent to 250. Rouse began to get into his stride and took back-to-back fours off Klein to take him to 50 off 82 balls (8x4, 1x6).

Slow left armer Parkinson banked Leicestershire's second bowling point with a good delivery, pitching one outside leg from over the wicket and spinning it past Rouse as he advanced with a straight bat.

All-rounder Stevens, who had played with destructive power in charging to his half-century off just 30 balls on Sunday evening, was more circumspect as he recorded a 94-ball century, the 33rd of his first-class career. It included 15 fours and a maximum but the batsman fell without further addition, caught by Klein at mid-off off Wells.

Kent went to lunch at 330-7, trailing by 90, and added a further 132 in the afternoon session as they moved past Leicestershire's first innings score.

James Harris and Tredwell shared 67 to help Kent towards maximum batting points before the former, who struck five boundaries in 34 went leg before to captain Mark Cosgrove, the first delivery with the new ball.

Contrasting half-centuries from left-handers Tredwell and Coles ensured Kent passed 400 with a ninth wicket alliance worth 89.

Tredwell’s diligent 50 came from 100 balls and included six fours while Coles, who utilised the reverse sweep to positive effect, blasted his landmark from 34 balls. The innings contained four fours and a trio of sixes that were all planted over mid-on. Five of those boundaries – a trio of fours and two sixes – came in the 94th over.

Cosgrove then introduced Harry Dearden, and with his first delivery the spinner beat Tredwell’s forward push with a delivery that turned and hit off stump to ensure Leicestershire claimed maximum bonus points from the match. It was Dearden’s second wicket of the season; the youngster already had the scalp of South Africa international Jacques Rudolph under his belt. 

Tea was taken and Leicestershire’s openers batted nicely before the captains shook hands shortly before 5pm.

Horton was quick to dispatch anything overpitched, including three early boundaries off his pads and a four down the ground, while a couple of deliveries were also sent down to vacant third man.

The left-handed Dearden again offered Horton good support, glancing down to fine-leg and also twice driving through the covers as the duo shared a second successive 50-run partnership, this time inside 14 overs.

An all-run four took Horton to 40 before he fell to Will Gidman, caught behind by substitute wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson. The Kent Academy scholar came to Leicester overnight to cover for Adam Rouse, who dislocated a thumb during play yesterday.

Dearden (17) was then dismissed by Matt Hunn as Gidman took a sharp catch above his head at gully after the batsman edged a drive, and that wicket brought about the end of the match.

Leicestershire’s next game is also in the Specsavers County Championship at Derbyshire on Thursday (11am start).

Bowling figures for Leicestershire: Klein 21-4-108-4, McKay 21-8-49-0, Griffiths 19-2-59-0, Wells 11-1-98-2, Parkinson 19-3-102-1, Cosgrove 4-0-10-1, Dearden 0.1-0-0-1